Celebrating the lives of those we lost in 2024

This year, we lost some friends in our community. They were explorers and adventurers. They were stewards of the land and volunteers in their communities. We wanted to take a moment to remember the incredible mark a few of them have made on all of us in the WTA community. So, we asked some of those closest to them to share a few memories about their vibrant lives, and the role that the outdoors played in the time they shared with us. They are deeply missed, but together, we remember and celebrate their lives and contributions to this community. 

Alan Gibbs

Marin Carroll remembers Alan Gibbs

Alan Gibbs was always immersed fully in the experience of every trail we shared. I often appreciated his keen eye and observations of flora and fauna. He picked up on nuances that I missed. I learned so much whenever I hiked with him. Other hikers would sometimes stop and ask him questions about a trail we were on. I saw so much joy and appreciation in his eyes.

One of the most memorable (and funniest) moments we shared on trail was when we saw a bear emerge from the forest on a trail at Mount Rainier. It ignored us to browse vegetation by the trail. We gingerly passed by and sat up on a rock outcropping to observe the bear. That’s when we saw a pair of hikers coming around the bend, totally unprepared for the encounter. They looked extremely startled and dropped their trekking poles. The bear ignored them too. 

Alan was a lifelong outdoor enthusiast, and the WTA community played a huge role in his life, informing him of trail conditions and new places to explore. Alan so enjoyed interacting with WTA staff and other hikers who belonged to the WTA community and contributing his own knowledge of trails and Northwest wild lands. (Alan volunteered as a Hiking Guide correspondent with WTA for many years.)  

Alan had enormous respect for trails and all who are stewards and appreciators of our beautiful Northwest landscape. He so enjoyed and cherished his warm connections with the WTA staff whom he interacted and worked with. 

Jon Nishimura

Joy Nishimura remembers Jon Nishimura

Jon was active in our father's Boy Scout troop for many years. He led the younger boys in learning how to be men. He showed them camping, hiking and cooking skills, and also taught them how to give back to their community. 

We are grateful for the relationships that Jon made with his WTA family. Washington Trails Association allowed Jon to enjoy the outdoors and helped provide benefits to other hikers while being able to share his Scouting experience. 

Jon was most active with WTA from 2012-2017, and in that time the WTA staff said he made a deep and lasting impact on the entire trail program and every person he met on trail.

Cornelia Remy

George Potter remembers Cornelia Remy

Cornelia Remy (left) snaps a photo on a work party at Point Defiance Park in 2021 with George Potter (right).

Cornelia “Cory” loved nature. Whenever possible, she wanted to be outdoors. She was happy and cheerful to be on any trail. She was a quiet and private person, but well-liked by everyone. She did her best to be outgoing and make others feel good. She participated in many groups including WTA, Issaquah Alps Trails Club, Renton Women's Hiking Group, Cactus Club, Gardening Club and Puget Sound Mycological Society. 

Cornelia was born in Lohr Am Main in Germany and immigrated to the United States at the age of seven with her mother and father. She grew up around Joint Base Lewis McCord, married after high school and spent much of her life near their home in Fairwood. She lost her husband just before her own death, and she is survived by her brother, Frank, in Texas. 

Cornelia's first work party with WTA was in the mid 1990s. She really became active working on the Margaret's Way trail. She also supported Issaquah Alps Trails Club, and in that capacity, she was one of the original people scouting Margaret's Way, contributing to signature features of the popular trail. She was the one who encouraged me to join many of my work parties, and she was the second Green Hat to achieve 500 days working with WTA on trails. She wanted to be the first green hat to achieve 1,000 days. She was proud of what she did, but never wanted to show off.

One day I swiped her hard hat and changed her trail name from CORY to SUNSHINE. There were a few times she wanted to change her trail name to GRUMPY, but she never did and never told anyone else. She kept working with WTA for as long as she could, even after her cancer diagnosis, right up to the point that her big heart could no longer keep her going. 

She brightened the lives of so many, and she is missed.

Did someone you love pass away this year? Please feel free to share a memory in the comments below.