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Biography & Autobiography Educators

An Ocean of Inspiration

The John Olguin Story

by (author) Stefan Harzen, Barbara Brunnick & Mike Schaadt

Publisher
Rocky Mountain Books
Initial publish date
Oct 2011
Category
Educators, Adventurers & Explorers, General
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781926855806
    Publish Date
    Oct 2011
    List Price
    $29.95

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Description

An Ocean of Inspiration is the true-life account of John Olguin (1921–2011), Director Emeritus of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro, California.

 

Although born into poverty and struggling with a speech impediment for many years, John refused to take “no” for an answer when people challenged his dreams. A natural-born leader and teacher, he connected his passion for education, nature and fantasy in order to help establish one of eco-tourism’s most successful endeavors: whale-watching.

 

Throughout his life, John experienced the world in ways well beyond the imagination of most, and he made sharing the glories of whalewatching, grunion runs and southern California’s stunning oceanscape his life’s mission.

 

This book serves as an enduring tribute to John, who was a founding member of the American Cetacean Society; founder of the Cabrillo Whalewatch naturalist-training program; a Silver Star-winning Army hero; revered mentor to countless lifeguards; godfather to multiple generations of scientists; and joyful teacher of millions of children.

About the authors

Dr. Stefan E. Harzen serves as Chairman and CEO of the Taras Oceanographic Foundation and concurrently as the Executive Director of Blue Dolphin Research and Consulting, Inc. and the Director of the Sustainability Office of Balam Investments/The Balam Escape.

Stefan Harzen's profile page

Dr. Barbara Brunnick is the Director of the Palm Beach Dolphin Project where she continues to follow her passion of studying whales and dolphins that began at the Cabrillo Marine Museum. Over the years, she has worked on various research projects, most notably studying Atlantic Spotted dolphins in the Bahamas, producing novel insights into the social organizations of these animals.

Barbara Brunnick's profile page

Mike Schaadt, a life-long Southern Californian, is Director of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, which is owned by the City of Los Angeles, Recreation and Parks Department. Mike has been involved in formal and informal marine science education for more than 30 years.

Mike Schaadt's profile page