Our dear friend and longtime steward, advocate, storyteller and organizer in defense of the Gulf Coast - Pat Suter - passed away earlier this year. Her memorial services are coming up on Wednesday March 19th in Corpus Christi. I will be driving down to pay our respects and mourn alongside her family and community. You can read her obituary here.
Many of our followers like you may have a story or six to share about Pat, her sons Hal and John, and their commitment to the lands and people of the Coastal Bend. Feel free to share your words here and we’ll make sure they reach the family (click here to share).
Pat Suter represented an intergenerational commitment to land stewardship, defense of coastal wildlife, and corporate accountability. This past International Women’s Day, we honored Pat’s legacy and mourned her passing. Pat’s legacy will be the countless lives she touched through teaching, mentoring, and leadership, the cleaner environment, the increased awareness of the importance of conservation in our everyday lives, and the many fond memories left with her family and friends.
Pat became a major force in local and statewide conservation efforts and organizations while serving on numerous city, county, and state level advisory boards and committees. For this work she received multiple awards and continued recognition. Pat had significant impacts on virtually all conservation issues that have affected the lives of people in South Texas, the Coastal Bend, and the State of Texas. In recognition of the lasting contributions of both Pat and Hans Suter to environmental conservation the City of Corpus Christi rededicated South Guth Park on the Cayo del Oso as the Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge. The “Suter Park” has become famous as a world-class bird viewing area, attracting visitors from across the globe.
In 1986, the 22 acres along the Cayo del Oso underwent some improvements, including an 800-foot boardwalk over the marshlands and a 3,500-foot-long hike and bike trail connecting the birding area of the park with a recreational area featuring picnic tables and a playground. This site became the Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge in 2011.
Watch to hear Pat in her own words for yourself in this hour-long video interview.
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Rest in peace and power Pat.
Dave Cortez