Justin R. Ehrenwerth

Justin Ehrenwerth, an internationally recognized expert on coastal policy known for leading the Baton Rouge-based Water Institute, died on May 11th at his home in New Orleans. His wife, Dana Dupré, said that he had been struggling with mental illness, and that he died by suicide. He leaves behind two sons - Louis, three, and Charles, five. With his charismatic manner and deep intelligence, Justin was known for his interest and love of people, as well as the environment. His move to New Orleans, his adopted home away from Pittsburgh, was a natural transition - and it helped that he married a beautiful woman from Opelousas. Appointed the second President of the Water Institute in 2017, Justin committed himself to protecting the Gulf and its waterways, cultivating relationships with thought leaders in Singapore, the Netherlands, and France - as well as by more local moments delivering soup when employees fell ill. He loved his wife and two children more than anything in the world, and devoted himself to creating a joyous home for them. "Justin's passing touches so many people who knew him well and respected his intellect and boundless enthusiasm for his work," said Governor John Bel Edwards. "He embodied the essence of what service to one's state, community and neighbors is all about and made a powerful and positive impact on Louisiana and the entire Gulf coast. His presence and his work will be sorely missed." Justin adored New Orleans, riding in Hermes for Mardi Gras, religiously attending Jazz Fest, joining the Touro Synagogue as well as the board of the Anti-Defamation League, where he was an active voice on the Civil Rights Committee. He loved walks with his boys on the levee near his house discovering batture encampments, red wine at Friday lunches at Galatoires, and sharing his love of Trombone Shorty and Jazz Fest with Charles and Louis. He read avidly, works by F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Salter, and never turned down adventure - traveling to Bhutan, Morocco, and across Europe. He often pushed off in a kayak to explore Louisiana, taking solo trips on the local bayous. A black and white photo of Ernest Hemingway continues to rest on the mantle of his study, alongside an obituary of his mother, Charlene "Kandy" Ehrenwerth, a Pittsburgh litigator and activist who died in a car crash when Ehrenwerth was 13. Ehrenwerth was a virtuoso on the harmonica, often traveling with a number of the shined instruments in various keys, and rooted passionately for the Steelers. (Last year he hosted a group from New Orleans when the Saints football team visited Pittsburgh.) Before arriving in New Orleans, Ehrenwerth served as Assistant Counsel to President Barack Obama, where he took the lead on Deepwater Horizon litigation for the White House working with the Department of Justice. He also served as a member of the Oversight and Litigation group representing the White House in Congressional investigations and advising federal agencies on oversight matters. Prior to joining the White House, Ehrenwerth served in the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of General Counsel. He received NOAA's Award for Excellence for work in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2023. "Justin had a tireless approach to working for a better Louisiana, a more resilient Gulf coast, and bringing those lessons to communities around the country," said Kevin Reilly, chairman of The Water Institute board of directors. "His vision for The Water Institute is realized in the work the Institute does everyday and his legacy will live on into the future." Justin Reid Ehrenwerth was born September 5th, 1978, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended Shady Side Academy – yearbook page shows a shaggy-haired senior class president, and quotes Bob Dylan and Monty Python. "Ah yes but what else floats on water?" His father, David H. Ehrenwerth, worked in a law firm. Along with his wife and two children, Justin is survived by his father and his younger sister, Lindsey Ehrenwerth Herman, a clinical social worker in Pittsburgh. Ehrenwerth attended Colby College in Maine, where he competed for the Colby Woodsmen, throwing double headed axes at targets from 15 feet, and met his future wife Dana on the first day of school. He graduated summa cum laude in 2001. He traveled overseas to Brasenose College at Oxford University as a Marshall scholar. At Oxford he joined the boxing team, and read PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economy). He returned stateside to attend law school at University of Pennsylvania, where he developed a passion for civil rights law and public interest. Following his success on national political campaigns, and as a member of Barack Obama's White House legal team, Ehrenwerth became the inaugural Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. The Council was created in the aftermath of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and charged with distributing billions of dollars in penalties to restore the Gulf Coast's economy. He then took on leadership at the Water Institute. "Justin and Dana have been friends of mine for decades," said U.S. Congressman Garret Graves. "From the oil spill to the Restore Council to the Restore Council to the Water Institute, Justin fell in love with coastal Louisiana …While I've lost a long-time friend, colleague and advocate, Justin's foundation and legacy will be impactful for generations. He will be missed." At bedtime with his boys, Justin spun up stories of the old pirate Captain Jack and his wild adventures. He and Dana loved Molly's Irish Pub, a dim bar in the French quarter with a pool table, darts, and words behind the bar of the W.B. Yeats poem "Under Ben Bulben." Cast a cold eye, On life, on death. Horseman, pass by! A service will be held at Touro Synagogue at 4238 St. Charles Avenue Sunday, May 21st, followed by a celebration of life.