Milton resident John Cronin recently retired from the Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) Board after 45 years of service. What, you may ask, fosters such a long-term relationship? A joint passion for the environment, shared vision for advocacy, and a focus on policy development that stays current with the times. For John, ELM represents a steadfast partner in all these.

John’s tenure with ELM began in 1970 and overlapped with those who had battled in the organization’s early days on behalf of Massachusetts forests and parks and protected valuable open space from development through legal statute. The unofficial historian of ELM’s board, John later helped ELM fight for regulation of pesticides and other harmful toxins such as mercury. Now, the focus has shifted to critical energy and climate change needs. “The language and understanding of the complexity of the issues have changed over the years,” says John, “In the early years it was nature, then conservation, then environment,” but throughout, the mission has rung true for this Eagle Scout and leader in the Massachusetts environmental movement.

A cofounder of the Milton Conservation Commission and the Friends of the Blue Hills, and active in many area boards, John appreciates ELM’s role as a convener of environmental interests statewide – the political arm of the environmental community. “ELM successfully organizes smaller groups and provides a way for them to speak up.”  His vision for ELM’s future is simple: success in advocacy for the environment at the State House.

Milton residents previously serving on the ELM Board included John T. Hemenway, James S. Russell and Natanial  Kidder, who also served as President.

ELM heartily thanks John for his passion, leadership, and dedication over the years.