Michael Compton Collins

"He was in love with life and tried to leave the world and his family in a better place. He did his best to love everyone as well as all sentient creatures."

Michael Compton Collins was born to JoAnn Wood and Bela Collins on October 16th, 1960. They lived in Charlottesville for a short while before moving to upstate New York, Oklahoma, and finally Front Royal, Virginia where he would attend Warren County High School for his final high school years. Although his time there was short, he had a great athletic career, culminating in setting a school record in the 800m that went on to last for decades after his graduation. It was also there that he would meet his eventual wife, Anna Bethune, with a chance pairing in physics lab. Michael would go on to graduate from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Biochemistry. The two would later marry on a hot July day in 1984 and soon came Stewart (Liza) Elizabeth Collins born in 1986 and Logan Alexander Collins born in 1990. The family settled in Gordonsville for a short period while Michael received his Master in Planning in Land Use and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia all while juggling a DIY house remodel and two small children.

Years later the family would make their way to Orange, Virginia where they spent the majority of Logan and Liza's formative years. Their time there was marked by countless outdoor activities that included fishing trips down the Rapidan River, weekend backpacking trips to Big Schloss, summer canoe trips down the Shenandoah River in the summer, skiing at Timberline Resort during the winters and countless sports activities and achievements by the kids. All due to the commitment of both Michael and Anna to provide a vibrant childhood and adolescence for their children. They also developed close friendships with multiple other families that would ultimately become like a second family to the Collins' with shared weekend dinners, parties, and vacations.

Although Michael had an incredible, varied professional career; his passion for conscious environmental stewardship and entrepreneurial spirit were the engines driving the train. He started teaching Environmental Science at Culpeper High School and eventually made his way into the public sector. From 1990-1998, he worked as an Environmental Planner for the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission in Charlottesville and led several groundwater, surface water, and sustainability projects and programs including the Rivanna River Basin Roundtable and the State of the Basin Report, the Interfaith Roundtable on Sustainability, and the Thomas Jefferson Sustainability Council and the Sustainability Accords of 1998. The Sustainability Council was selected as a Case Study of the President's Council on Sustainable Development. He again worked in the public sector from 2004-2009 and led the creation of a new planning department for the Town of Orange, Virginia. This work resulted in him receiving the Chairmans Award from the Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District.

His time in the private sector started in 1998 with the creation of Healthy Home in Charlottesville to supply the area with sustainably produced home goods. Next came the creation of Virginia Ground Water with Dr. Nick Evans in 2002 that was a science based well drilling firm that continues to this day as the Center for Sustainable Groundwater. In 2006, he and four colleagues formed the Association of Conservation Real Estate/Conserv. In 2009, Conserv partnered with the Rappahannock River Basin Committee and the Virginia Department of Forestry on several market based conservation programs and projects. From 2012-2022, Conserv evolved into the Center for Natural Capital. That era saw the creation of Stream Sweepers and was eventually the recipient of the 2014 Sanctioned Event of the Year from the American Canoe Association and a commendation from the Virginia General Assembly. Those two projects culminated in Michael co-founding American Climate Partners in 2023. While serving as their Executive Director he continued to lead Stream Sweepers and the Rapidan Fish Passage Project until his death on July 29, 2025 while assisting a stranded motorist.

Michael is survived by his mother JoAnn Compton Nichols and father Bela Pleaz Collins and stepmother Susan Ascencio; children Liza (Stewart) Collins, Logan and wife Jessica Trapeni; grandchildren Kaia Nelson, Jackson and Oliver Collins; brother Joe Collins and wife Autumn; niece Rebecca and nephew David Collins. He was preceded in death by his wife Anna Bethune Collins and stepfather Kermit Nichols.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, September 7th 2025 at Oakencroft Farm and Winery at 5:00 p.m. The address is 1455 Oakencroft Circle, Charlottesville, VA 22901. There will be time for remarks and stories for all that wish to share. After the celebration of life, we will continue the party at Logan's house at the same location. All that wish to camp can do so. If possible, please RSVP to: tinyurl.com/collinscelebrationoflife so that we can get an idea of how many will be in attendance.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to an organization or non-profit that is close to your heart in memory of Michael.