William R. Korthof

October 1978 - October 2014 William Korthof's life was cut short at 36 years when he was killed as a passenger on a motorcycle in a collision with a car. Will was an environmentalist, a runner (nearly 40 marathons, including Boston), a vegan, a businessman, and founder of an intentional community. From a young age, Will loved electrical systems. He started Quiz Systems in high school (an inexpensive buzzer system based on his own design). By the time he was in college at Cal Poly Pomona and living at the Center for Regenerative Studies, he was dedicated to environmentalism. These passions fueled his work throughout his life. Will ran two solar companies: he took over Energy Efficiency Solar in 2001 and founded Sustainable Solutions Partners in 2011. SSP was owned and operated by Will in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas with the motto: "We Make Green Living Simple." Sustainable Solutions installed and maintains hundreds of solar photovoltaic business and residential systems in the state of California, as well as all manner of "Sustainable Solutions" from landscaping to water-saving technologies to electric vehicle charger installation and service upgrades. Will's family intends to continue operation of SSP with the help of the many people who have worked with and learned from Will over the years. Will installed solar panels on as many California roofs as possible. His solar companies harnessed the sun at over a thousand of California solar customers' homes and businesses. He also provided solar power to camps and villages, art projects and electric vehicles at Burning Man for nearly a decade, as well as environmental events like WorldFest. Will wanted to educate others about ways to conserve energy, save resources and make this world a better, cleaner and healthier place. His advocacy for renewable power was founded in economic analysis rather than emotion, for example arguing for solar power to smooth the electrical demand curve, since solar generation is highest during peak demand (summer afternoons). Will was passionate about the potential of electric transportation; he installed hundreds of electric vehicle charging stations in California, many at homes powered with solar. In 2004, Will refused to return his electric Ford Ranger pickup to Ford Motor Company for destruction. In an organized action with other drivers and supporters, he parked his pickup in front of a Sacramento Ford dealership in the winter of 2004 to convince Ford to stop crushing its electric Rangers. He got what he wanted: Ford stopped the crushing, and sold the electric Ranger drivers their cars for $1. Along with his father, Douglas, Will appeared in the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car." Will owned and drove many electric cars throughout his life, using them for all kinds of tasks. To show it could be done, along with other EV enthusiasts, he drove the EV1 across the US. In 1999 he drove from California to Atlanta and then Orlando, and in 2000 from California to Montreal and then New York. Will liked to jump in and do the work needed to make sure that things get done, whether that meant climbing a tree, connecting two pipes together, or crawling under a house. He was vegan, and his houses were vegetarian, but when visiting others he asked only that his own food be vegan: in doing so, he wanted to show that his environmental choices could be normal and healthy. He sometimes registered for marathons as "Go Vegan" to demonstrate that one can be both vegan and athletic. He helped friends choose lighting with the goal that it be both more efficient and more aesthetically pleasing -- a better choice, not a compromise ... sometimes he did this without asking, providing the lights himself. In 1999, Will established the Regen Cooperative, an intentional community made up of numerous homes in Pomona where he lived with people with an enthusiasm for green living. Will retrofitted these communal homes with rooftop solar arrays, gray water / rainwater catchment and energy efficiency systems, and sustainable landscaping including over 100 fruit trees. Will was a beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew, and cousin. Many who worked and lived with him described how he treated them as family. He was pragmatically compassionate; when he saw problems, sometimes he would solve them himself, but more often he would teach or help others to solve their own problems. Some people in the Regen community joked about "Will-fare", which meant that if you were broke but willing to work, Will would find work for you to do. Will divided his time between Pomona and San Francisco. He was a member of the LGBT-friendly temples Beth Chayim Chadashim and Congregation Sha'ar Zahav. A memorial will be held at Lincoln Park in Pomona on November 2nd, at noon, and a memorial will be held in San Francisco on October 26th (mail WilliamKorthofMemorialSF@gmail.com for info). In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Adopt-a-Charger, the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust or an environmental organization of your choice. Will's brilliance and dedication inspired us. He was fearless; he turned possibilities into realities. We will miss him.