Remembering Peter B. Lord: SEJ and Rhode Island Will Never Be the Same

Peter Lord (second from left) on Block Island, at the Rhode Island Natural History Survey's 2010 citizen science event "BioBlitz." Photo credit: © Curt Milton.

Peter B. Lord, environmental journalist for the Providence Journal died on Thursday, April 4, 2012.

• "Providence Journal environment reporter Peter Lord, 60, dies," Providence Journal, April 4, 2012, by Timothy S. Murphy.
• "Whitehouse issues statement on death of Journal's Peter Lord," Providence Journal, April 4, 2012.
• "R.I.P. Peter Lord," On Politics blog, WRNI/NPR, April 4, 2012, by Scott MacKay.
• "Peter Lord 1952-2012," RIPR News/NPR, April 4, 2012.
• "The Lord File," Rhode Island Truth-O-Meter, PolitiFact.
• "PROVIDENCE JOURNAL's Peter Lord Dies: Covered both RI lead paint trials," Law And More blog, April 4, 2012.
• "2012 RI Distinguished Naturalist Award to Peter Lord," Rhode Island Natural History Survey, March 13, 2012, by D. Gregg.

A public service was held for Peter on April 15, 2012 in Edwards Auditorium on the University of Rhode Island campus in Kingston, RI. For details, see Peter's obituary in the April 8th Providence Journal and other newspapers. The obituary also includes information about the Peter Lord Environmental Journalism Scholarship they've established at URI and how to donate to it.

Peter was a friend, colleague, mentor, educator, a standard-setter and standard-bearer for so many in the SEJ community. He was truly a pioneer and a remarkable leader in this field. Peter had already been covering the environment for eight years when he joined this new organization called "SEJ" in 1990. He went on to serve on the board and to mentor many new members. He helped establish and lead the Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting at the University of Rhode Island, taught classes, and sometimes manned the "Truth-O-Meter" for the Rhode Island edition of Politifact. He was a great public speaker and won many honors and accolades. SEJ mourns the passing and celebrates the life of Peter Lord.

Most of all we'll miss his giving spirit, his warm heart, his wry sense of humor, and his great smile. And, in his honor, perhaps the best thing SEJ can do is promise to continue to try to enable good work in environmental journalism.

Enjoy a sampling of Peter's work:

• "Saving Block Island," a seven-part multimedia series about the history of conservation on Block Island, Providence Journal, June 2005, by Peter B. Lord.
• "RI judge: Lead paint companies must cover own costs," Providence Journal, May 25, 2010, by Peter B. Lord.
• "Woonsocket landlord cited for lead-paint violations," Providence Journal, January 20, 2010, by Peter Lord.

SEJ members have been sharing many thoughts about the legacy of Peter Lord. This one from author Bob Wyss speaks to the broader impact of his work. "I worked off and on with Pete on the same beat (there were once at least three of us covering environment) at the Providence Journal for many, many years. I can tell you that Pete's impact in Rhode Island is even greater than what has been described here so far. He has helped leave Rhode Island with cleaner communities, beaches, water and air. I can think of no greater legacy for someone who calls himself an environmental reporter."

R.I.P., Peter, we'll do our best to carry on with your legacy.