Reflections on Friends and Heroes

Producer Chris Bauer filming over the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary in NOAA's Twin Sea Otter plane.One of the things I enjoy most about my job as a media producer is the opportunity to interact with the amazing people, places and things we profile in our stories. For each story we get the opportunity to meet remarkable individuals who are doing extraordinary work that hopefully benefits their community or the whole planet in new and wonderful ways. The work these people are doing makes this a better world. I’m fortunate to have visited some beautiful places. And I have witnessed some incredible things.

Every story is different. And with every story I get a chance to expand my world and ways of thinking. I often say my job gives me great "cocktail party stories."

We recently went on a QUEST Exploration of Angel Island and were led by the effervescent Silvia Lange. Silvia's face would absolutely light up when talking about the wildflowers and even the poison oak. She loved Angel Island and it showed. Last January, just months after she guided us on our hike, Silvia went missing during a visit to Point Reyes National Seashore. Her vehicle and dogs were found but she has not been seen since. It’s assumed that she was swept away by a rogue wave while walking on the beach.

Silvia was an Angel Island State Park docent of 26 years, well known for her historic sketches and wildflower walks. She also served as a docent at Mountain View Cemetery, and volunteered for Marin Agricultural Land Trust and the Nicasio Historical Society. She raised puppies for Canine Companions for Independence in Santa Rosa. Silvia was the kind of person the world needs more of. And her loss is deeply felt by everyone who knew her. I’m glad that we can share her song, “On Top of Mt. Livermore” on our Quest Exploration. But it’s bittersweet to hear. I spent only one day with her and yet I miss her. I feel fortunate to have met her and showcase her enthusiasm. But I wish she was still here to teach more people, share the wonders of Angel Island, to sing and inspire.

It’s not surprising that I oftentimes get attached to our subjects. Through our research, meeting these people, people I call “heroes,” you can’t help but get attached. We spend a lot of time with them, both literally in person and figuratively in the edit bay. We often get swept up in their stories, their causes, the places or animals they protect, the work they do and the things they hold dear. We join them on their journey.

Yes, I have met many great people in the course of my career. Many I still consider friends. Most I continue to keep close tabs on. I follow their stories long after the TV show has aired. Some I get the fortunate chance to revisit. I consider this a blessing of my job. But when you care about someone or something, you end up taking both the good and the bad. People I’ve profiled and cared about have been injured or killed in the far-flung battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. Other friends we have met, both two-legged and four-legged, have been lost to disease. Beautiful places we have showcased have been bulldozed and paved over. Some of the animals we have profiled are now teetering on the edge of extinction.

I got to thinking about this again this week when I felt the pain of another kind of loss. We just got news from The Monterey Bay Aquarium that the juvenile great white shark we profiled in our story “Sharks in Captivity,” was killed by a fisherman’s gill net. The shark had been fitted with two electronic tracking tags when she was released in Monterey Bay, one of which was recovered by Mexican researchers who collaborate with the aquarium to study migrations of young great white sharks. Randy Hamilton, vice president of husbandry for the aquarium, said “This just underscores the threats that these young sharks face in the wild.” “Though they’re legally protected in both California and Mexico, they are still caught accidentally by commercial fishermen on both sides of the border. Not all of them survive.” It’s painful to know that a beautiful animal we just saw so full of life is gone before she had a chance to grow up. And in this case, it is also representative and a reminder of the millions of sharks that are killed each year.

We can easily get caught up in the stream of bad news; the trees dying, the climate changing, the oceans at the brink. It can be overwhelming, heartbreaking and often disheartening. But these things also reinforce my commitment and, I think, the commitment of my colleagues at Quest, to report these stories. These people, these places, the science and the environment, need to be showcased and cared about deeply. I consider myself fortunate to be able to witness these stories and profile the heroes who are making a difference. It’s truly an honor. And so, with that, I just want to take the time to once again thank all the people who have appeared on Quest for their hard work and dedication. I look forward to seeing you again, meeting other heroes and sharing whole new stories.

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