Louis Aaron Reitmeister (1903-1975) was a 20th century American writer whose dedication to both humanism and the environment was a life-long commitment. He was a respected contributor of articles to numerous academic journals and popular periodicals. Through an understanding of the human condition, most of his books emphasized rights and indivuality in a modern world dominated by a century of hostility and war. Before his death, he established the Louis Aaron Reitmeister Foundation, which, through grants and scholarships, continues to preserve and safeguard endangered species -- and help rid pollution from rivers, streams, and oceans of the world.
In 2008, the Louis Aaron Reitmeister Foundation generously created an endowed scholarship at the Rosenstiel School for Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Science and an endowed award at the Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy. The funds created the Louis Aaron Reitmeister Endowed Award Fund at the Abess Center.
The Reitmeister-Abess Center Environmental Stewardship Award is given annual to the individual(s) who has made a singularly significant contribution to conservation, particularly related to water resources and/or endangered species.
Past recipients include: Harvey Ruvin, Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts/local environmentalist; author/environmental activist Carl Hiaasen; Terrence “Rock” Salt, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Civil Works; Jennifer Jurado, director of the Broward County Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division; Rachel Silverstein, executive director of Miami Waterkeeper; and Carlton Ward, Jr., conservation photographer; Jane Gilbert (Chief Resilience Officer, City of Miami), Susy Torriente (former Chief Resilience Officer, City of Miami Beach), and Jim Murley (Chief Resilience Officer, Miami-Dade County); Caroline Lewis, founder and senior climate advisor of the CLEO Institute; Betty Osceola, Native American Everglades educator, conservationist, anti-fracking, and clean water advocate; and Jenny Staletovich, environmental reporter.
