Joan Luedders Wolfe

Joan Luedders Wolfe
Born
Joan Luedders

May 2, 1929
Highland Park, Michigan, United States
DiedJanuary 23, 2021(2021-01-23) (aged 91)
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
OccupationEnvironmental activist
Known forFounding of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council
Important environmental legislation

Joan Luedders Wolfe (May 2, 1929 – January 23, 2021) was an environmental activist[1] who founded the West Michigan Environmental Action Council in 1968.[2] She has been described as "one of the mothers of the modern environmental movement", often acting on a national or global level to achieve local change.[3]

Wolfe coordinated the drafting and passage of the landmark Michigan Environmental Protection Act of 1970.[4] At Wolfe's request, the law was written by University of Michigan law professor Joseph Sax.[5] The legislation became the model for similar statutes in twelve other states, and the basis for federal and international environmental law.[6] She and her husband, Willard E. Wolfe, DDS (March 8, 1926 – February 16, 2011), were also key strategists in writing and lobbying for passage of Michigan's Inland Lakes and Streams Act of 1972.[7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mongillo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference MWF was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Brockett was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Haynes, Jeffrey K. (2018). "Chapter 14: Michigan Environmental Protection Act - Environmental Law Section". In Haynes, Jeffrey K.; Donohue, Dennis J.; Johnson, Susan L. (eds.). Michigan Environmental Law Deskbook. State Bar of Michigan.
  5. ^ Douglas Martin, "Joseph Sax, Who Pioneered Environmental Law, Dies at 78" (obituary), New York Times, March 10, 2014.
  6. ^ "Boalt Mourns Loss of Joseph Sax and Henry Ramsey Jr. '63 eNews, Berkeley Law - Boalt Hall, University of California, April 2014".
  7. ^ "Joan Luedders Wolfe" (PDF). ggrwhc. Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council. Retrieved 13 February 2022.