Conservation Leadership in Action: How Essex Meadows Residents Shape Local Environmental Future

At Essex Meadows, our residents bring decades of expertise and passion to bear on the environmental challenges facing our Connecticut River Valley community. Few embody this spirit better than John Forbis, whose four years at Essex Meadows and lifetime of professional experience have been marked by extraordinary leadership in local conservation efforts.

When John first considered Essex Meadows, he came with strong connections to the community. His wife’s aunt had been among the original residents who moved from West Hartford, and friends from their Long Island Sound retreat had shared glowing recommendations. What John didn’t expect was discovering the “very rich interactions between residents” and the remarkable extent to which Essex Meadows residents engage with vital activities outside the community.

“We’re not isolated here at Essex Meadows,” John reflects, “but we’re part of a thick web of people that have skills that are helpful in terms of whatever activity we’re focused on.”

A Decade of Environmental Leadership

John’s conservation work began even before he moved to Essex Meadows. Ten years ago, he helped establish the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, an ambitious environmental organization dedicated to enhancing the local environment while fostering community involvement from ages 3 to 90. What started as meetings in a barn in Old Lyme has grown into a thriving organization that now raises approximately one million dollars annually, supplemented by significant federal grants.

The center’s mission spans multiple critical areas: comprehensive children’s education programs, cutting-edge environmental research on species like monarch butterflies and fireflies, Connecticut River rehabilitation projects, and innovative community science programs that make complex research accessible to learners of all ages. These aren’t just local initiatives—they connect to national research networks, with programs developed in partnership with institutions like MIT.

The connection between Essex Meadows and the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center runs deep. For the organization’s first two years, all six lectures in its inaugural community education series were held right here in Hamilton Hall. Today, Essex Meadows continues to host board meetings and fundraising activities, while residents provide substantial financial support—contributing a significant portion of the center’s annual funding.

“There’s a very strong commitment here to the environment,” John notes, pointing to the seamless connection between our community and the adjacent 1,000-acre preserve. “Essex Meadows residents were not just involved in the fundraising for that preserve—they were driving forces in making it happen.”

Building Networks for Conservation

John’s environmental leadership extends far beyond a single organization. As a founding board member of the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve, he helped establish a 52,000-acre program that represents a joint venture between the state of Connecticut and NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This ambitious initiative uses the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center as a model for education outreach while deploying sophisticated sensor technology throughout the Connecticut River system, feeding data to a national environmental database.

The interconnectedness doesn’t stop there. John is also actively involved with the Essex Land Trust, which played a pivotal role in establishing our neighboring preserve. Multiple Essex Meadows residents serve on the Essex Land Trust board or participate in its programs, and the organization regularly holds its annual board meeting and educational lectures right here in our community.

Through his work with the Mentoring Corps for Community Development, John applies business expertise to help local nonprofits thrive. This organization has assisted diverse clients, from The Black Business Alliance and medical transportation services to a remarkable fine furniture refurbishing company that maintains historic pieces for the U.S. Treasury and Senate. The mentoring approach leverages the varied professional backgrounds of Essex Meadows residents, creating a powerful resource for community development.

The Power of Collaborative Expertise

What makes Essex Meadows unique in supporting these conservation efforts is the collaborative culture that naturally develops among residents. Regular gatherings—men’s breakfasts on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and weekly women’s breakfasts—create informal networks where residents share knowledge and identify opportunities to contribute their expertise.

“Most of us draw on contemporary knowledge and everything we learned, whether in business or military service,” John explains. “We quickly begin to understand what the background is for different people.” Need advice on starting an ice cream shop? There’s a resident with decades of expertise in that industry. Looking for marketing insights? Someone at the breakfast table has exactly the experience you need.

This collaborative approach extends to staying current with emerging technologies. John has embraced artificial intelligence to streamline his fundraising communications for the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, reducing what used to be a week-long research project into a few focused hours of work. The community regularly discusses technological breakthroughs, with residents sharing cutting-edge articles and insights that keep everyone engaged with contemporary developments.

A World-Class Environmental Setting

The conservation work happening here isn’t just locally significant—it’s globally relevant. Essex Meadows sits in what John describes as “a world-class environment.” The Connecticut River Estuary is recognized among the most important deltas globally, on par with the Amazon, due to its unique geography that allows fresh and saltwater to mix at incredible volume, creating one of the most powerful hydrodynamic and biodiverse environments in the world.

This exceptional tidal force creates unique conditions where sediment from the river moves three to five miles into Long Island Sound before tidal action pushes it back into our wetlands. The result is an extraordinarily rich ecosystem that attracts diverse fish and bird populations—and provides an unparalleled natural laboratory for environmental research and conservation.

The U.S. Navy recognizes these unique conditions, using the river mouth every three years for underwater device testing because the flows mirror conditions they might encounter in strategic international harbors. It’s a reminder that the environmental work being conducted here has implications far beyond our local community.

Finding Purpose in Active Retirement

For John, this level of community engagement represents the essence of fulfilling retirement. “I never have time to think about being retired,” he says with a laugh. The sense of fulfillment comes from seeing organizations thrive, knowing that his contributions have helped create lasting positive change in the community.

“I can look around and see businesses, nonprofits, and educational activities that I’ve contributed to or helped create,” John reflects. “I feel like I’m still contributing, and when I have discussions with our grandchildren, I’m up to date in terms of helping them or talking about what they’re doing.”

This active engagement creates a ripple effect throughout Essex Meadows. Residents take pride in their community involvement, engaging in vital conversations about real issues they’re helping to address. The focus remains consistently forward-looking and constructive, avoiding divisive topics in favor of collaborative problem-solving.

An Invitation to Get Involved

John’s message to fellow residents considering community involvement is characteristically direct and welcoming: “If you’re really interested in contributing to something locally, let me know, and I’ll be more than happy to introduce you to people and help you find a home for your interests—or find an opportunity where you can create your own.”

This open invitation philosophy reflects the broader culture at Essex Meadows, where residents don’t just live alongside each other but actively collaborate to make a difference in their community. Whether through established organizations like the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center and Essex Land Trust, or emerging initiatives in neighboring towns, there are countless opportunities for residents to apply their expertise and passion to meaningful causes.

The conservation work led by residents like John demonstrates that Essex Meadows isn’t just a place to enjoy retirement—it’s a launching pad for the next chapter of purposeful engagement with the world around us. In a setting where the Connecticut River’s world-class ecosystem meets a community of accomplished individuals, the possibilities for positive impact are as boundless as the tides that shape our extraordinary landscape. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a visit.