Avid botanist, dedicated environmentalist, and lifelong educator Dr. J. Dan Pittillo passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 10, surrounded by family and friends, at the age of 86. This story, originally published in June 2021, celebrates his decades of contributions to natural science and environmental education in the Great Smoky Mountains region.

I met and became friends with Dr. Dan Pittillo through this column . He writes me an email every time one of my articles is published here; in fact, that’s how I know what day they run. He always tells me something I didn’t know about my topic, and he shows the kind of appreciation upon which interpretive writers and researchers thrive.

Dan’s own story is one worth telling. Countless conservation projects have succeeded thanks to Dan’s

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