John Warren Brookbank

1927 — 2014

John Warren Brookbank died peacefully at his home on Griffin Bay, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014 at the age of 87.

Born and raised in Seattle, the family spent summers at their West Beach cabin on Orcas, where he forged lifelong friendships with many islanders. He worked on Tom Talman’s Sunderland Ranch and married his first wife Marcia Ireland on Orcas.

He studied at the University of Washington and received a PhD in Biology from the California Institute of Technology. John was professor emeritus in microbiology at the University of Florida and spent summers in the San Juans doing research and teaching at the Friday Harbor Labs. 

After 30 years at the University of Florida, he retired and moved to Friday Harbor with his wife, Sally.

John was passionate about preserving the quality of life in the San Juans. He served as president of the San Juan Nature Institute and was a consultant in the fields of land-use and conservation and fin-fish aquaculture.

He is survived by his wife Sally Brookbank of Friday Harbor, his three children, Ursula Brookbank of Los Angeles, Jake Brookbank of Kirkland and Phoebe Brookbank of Sonoma and; two grandsons, Max Biren of Seattle and Conor Brookbank of Kirkland. John will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Donations in John’s memory can be made to The San Juan Nature Institute, PO Box 3110, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.

— Family of John Brookbank