John Broesamle

1941-2023
© Fred Rothenberg

A prolific and passionate author, John began his

man of integrity and dignity, John embodied a vanishing American tenth book during a five-year remission from
ideal; a committed, inquisitive, and passionate man of letters. inoperable pancreatic cancer, the grim diagnosis
He was an intellectual who possessed a rare kindness and wisdom he received in 2018. That book, Transforming
that only come to those who never lose their love for their fellow human beings. A great thinker who Paradise: How Franklin D. Roosevelt and Thousands
always welcomed new ideas and new friends, he enjoyed company to the fullest, with an uproarious of Unemployed Americans Created Today’s Yosemite
appreciation for any good – or bad – joke. His dedication to the Ojai community was legendary and he National Park, examines the transformative New
Deal era in Yosemite. A deeply personal story he
brought a stubborn strength and steely determination to protect the valley he loved.
thought he’d never get a chance to write, John
received a publication offer during his final
John Broesamle, 82, beloved husband, father, Padres ForestWatch Wilderness Legacy Award hospitalization. He remained actively engaged with
grandfather, friend, and neighbor, died comfortably (2019), and Rotary International Paul Harris the manuscript throughout his time in hospice so
at home on June 17, 2023. Fellowship for service above self (2023). When he that family could see it through to print.
A lifelong outdoorsman, John felt an abiding wasn’t planting saplings with Ojai Trees, you
John did not waste a single day of those five years.
commitment to do no harm and, in the wilderness might find him teaching children to read at Topa
In addition to researching and writing
where he felt most at home, to leave no trace. The Topa, San Antonio, and Meiners Oaks Elementary
Transforming Paradise, he helped create OUR OJAI
reputation he earned as a Schools, or removing trash from the Los Padres.
for the Ojai Valley Defense
“conservation giant” was Fund, a book of
an understatement. Taking photographs celebrating
over as President of the Ojai the valley. In the weeks
Valley Land Conservancy leading up to his diagnosis,
in 1998, John reshaped John, Kathy, and Gil flew to
it into one of Southern Peru as volunteers with the
California’s most successful ORBIS flying eye hospital.
land trusts. During his term Having been blind twice
as President, the OVLC himself, John knew what
secured its first acquisition, the gift of sight could mean
the 80-acre Ilvento Preserve. to the children he met
John next led the effort to there. Back home he hiked,
acquire the two parcels that backpacked, and fly fished.
now comprise the 58-acre He tied flies with his
Ojai Meadows Preserve; the grandchildren. He
very acreage for which the participated in political
OVLC had been founded discussions with friends. He
to preserve. After stepping down in 2000, John John is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, celebrated the super blooms. He read, helped
returned to the board at the request of Jim Kathy, children Carolyn and Robert, son-in-law Gil, others, attended his grandchildren’s athletic and
Jackson, OVLC’s President and John’s friend of and grandchildren Aiden, Tyler, and Brady. John academic events, cooked, and enjoyed the simple
nearly half-a-century. John then helped secure met Kathy during one of the college summers they things we often take for granted. Maximizing all
the deal for Cluff Vista Park and the OVLC’s crown both worked in Yosemite National Park. John grew that life has to offer is the essence of who John was.
jewel, the Ventura River Preserve. During that up in the park. His family was one of the original He often described his last five years as among the
era, the OVLC protected in excess of 1,700 acres of Tuolumne Meadows’ “old-timers,” a community of best of his life. John had hoped to climb a favorite
open space and experienced an unprecedented teachers who spent entire summers there. He pass in Yosemite one last time this summer. In the
surge in membership. Even as recently as a month adored Yosemite, where his parents taught him to days leading up to his death, he urged all of us –
ago, John was working tirelessly to acquire a fly fish, a lifelong calling he fostered in his children family, friends, and community – to do our favorite
meaningful piece of open space within the City of and grandchildren. He also saw it as a perfect things as often as we can. Life is fleeting.
Ojai. Jackson described John as “a model for what
a board president should be, a model for what There are many people to thank, especially Dr.
a volunteer should be, and a model for what a Joshua Rosenberg of UCLA (pictured here with John
friend should be.” in the Ventura River Preserve), for whom no words
are adequate. Dr. Rosenberg,
When approached by community leaders a few
oncologist and friend, gave
years later to form an environmental defense fund
John the gift of those five
for the valley, John led a monumental effort to
years, going above and
create the Ojai Valley Defense Fund; a community
beyond the call of duty at
war chest in excess of one million dollars to protect
every turn, providing world-
the valley’s environmental well-being against dire
class care and compassion.
threats that appear here on average twice per
Chemo nurses Priscilla and
decade – a uranium strip mine in our watershed, a
Theresa, and the entire UCLA
regional landfill in a pristine canyon, and freeways
community, befriended John
trisecting the valley, to name a few.
and celebrated every victory against a relentless
Because he preferred the focus to be on others, vehicle for imparting values and ethics; how to kill
disease. Dr. Robert Buckingham, longtime physician
John did this work quietly and effectively, but a fish humanely, to release more than you keep
and friend, advocated fiercely for John when the
accolades came steadily: Ojai Chamber of (and always the egg-bearing females), and to stay
diagnosis came in and thereafter. The team at
Commerce Citizen of the Year (1999), Ojai Valley off the wildflowers at water’s edge. Learning how
Livingston Hospice thought of everything to make
Land Conservancy Conservation Award (2001), to tie flies, he believed, taught both patience and
things easier. Friends and neighbors enriched John’s
Rotary Ojai Living Treasure (2001), Environmental artistry. The fly fishing life became the perfect
life immeasurably to the end. Two special people
Defense Center Lifetime Achievement Award symbol of his lifelong commitment to tread lightly
made this obituary the beautiful tribute that it is –
(2003), OVN “Best Volunteer of the Ojai Valley” and humanely on our planet.
Mark Frost, dear friend and fellow writer, who
(2012 and 2013), VC Star’s “25 Over 50” award As a student John received his M.A. and Ph.D. from edited John’s work and he his, and Joel MaHarry,
(2014), Ojai Valley Defense Fund James D. Loebl Columbia University. He spent his career as Professor graphic designer and new family friend.
Award for environmental excellence (2018), Los of History at California State University, Northridge
John deeply admired and wrote about naturalist
from 1968-2002, where he invited crowds of students
John Muir, who once so fittingly said “the
to banter and debate during office hours in a
mountains are calling and I must go.” John, they
raucous, freewheeling “salon.” Many remained
are indeed, but we hate to see you go.
lifelong friends. His professional accolades include a
Woodrow Wilson Fellow, President’s Fellow, John would have appreciated anyone reading this
Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellow, Danforth obituary to do something for the environment.
(national teaching excellence) Program Associate, Donate to a favorite cause, pick up trash along a
and the CSUN Scholarly Publication Award and trail, plant a tree, walk rather than drive an errand,
Distinguished Teaching Award. and – above all else – find pleasure in every day.