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MARVIN BRESLER DURNING
June 21, 1929 ~ October 16, 2013
Marvin Bresler Durning passed away on October 16, 2013 after a long struggle with Parkinson's. He leaves his wife, Jean; children, Susan, Jonathan, and Alan; and eight grandchildren.
Born in New Orleans to a working-class family, he graduated as Dartmouth's valedictorian, won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford, served the U.S. Navy as a gunnery and intelligence officer, and earned a law degree from Yale. At Yale, he met and fell in love with Jean Cressey, with whom he married in 1958. In 1959, they settled in Seattle, WA and started a family.
Committed to conservation and public service, Marvin practiced law and taught at UW. In 1965, President Johnson named him Conservationist of the Year for leading a citizens' drive for land conservation. In 1977, President Carter appointed him chief of enforcement at EPA.
He left a remarkable legacy. Today, thanks in part to his efforts, many places remain natural and open to the public, such as parts of the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. He helped keep billboards off interstate highways. His EPA leadership left millions of Americans breathing cleaner air and drinking purer water. His political and legal projects brought him often to Vancouver. As lawyer for local citizens, for example, he helped protect the free-flowing Columbia River from a massive airport expansion in Portland.
After his retirement, he wrote two books: World Turned Upside Down, a history of his Naval intelligence unit, and a memoir Beyond the Baths of All the Western Stars.
Friends are invited to celebrate Marvin's life at a memorial service on October 26 at 2 p.m. at Horizon House, 900 University St., Seattle, WA 98101.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may go to Sightline Institute or Group Health Foundation.
Please sign his Guest Book at www.columbian.com/obits.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
You were an environmental hero, and your legacy lives on in your children and all your other spiritual heirs. Thank you for the inspiration, thank you for what you achieved for all!
Brian Williams
November 1, 2013
The Washington State Veterans Cemetery extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Marvin B. Durning for your loss, to honor his service to our country and our patriotic hero.
October 27, 2013
I was privileged to meet and have some of the same classes with Marvin in law school 56 years ago, to be his and his family's neighbor in Seattle, and to be a co-worker on a number of causes. Best of all, we were friends. He was always a person of principle and conscience, merited respect and trust, and had rare intelligence and insight. I am grateful he was in my life, and he added to it. I will miss him, but he will always be with me. My love to Jean and his three wonderful children.
Donald Horowitz
October 24, 2013
Fondest remembrance of a great and wonderful man, especially the twinkle in his eyes and his way of making even the youngest children feel seen and heard and important. --Nettie Legters
October 23, 2013
Sending love . . .
Donna Morton
October 20, 2013
To all the Durnings--my greatest sympathies on the passing of Marvin. I enjoyed the time I spent with him, especially listening to him tell stories of his interesting experiences. His devotion to his causes and his love for his family always shone through.
Leslie Dooley
October 20, 2013
Dear Jean and family:
Gloria and I would like to express our deepest symphacy on Marvin passing away into the Kingdom of Heaven. The Gran Caballero, as we used to call him, will be remembered for ever in Puerto Rico for all the advice he provided on the environmental protection of this Caribbean Island. The people of Puerto Rico own Marvin Durning a debt of gratitude that we would never be able to pay back. On behalf of our people, I would like to thanks you: Muchas gracias al Gran Caballero Ambiental.
Pedro A.Gelabert
Pedro A. Gelabert
October 20, 2013
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