Glen Harcourt, 40, Was Advocate for Sustainability

Glen Harcourt died Feb. 23 when his plane crashed near Telluride, Colo. He died doing something he loved, a reminder to all of how he lived his life completely and without reservation. He was 40 years old.

Glen came to the Vineyard during summer breaks from college to visit his brothers, Gregg and Gary. Between 1987 and 1992 he lived year-round on the Island. His time here was greatly influenced by the people he met and worked with. Along with his brothers, Glen worked at DECA with Jimmy Glavin and Gino Mazzaferro for a year, and with Richard Wright, Sandy Alexander, Jim Young and Kate Warner, just to name a few. He was inspired by many Vineyard artists including David Licht, Lauri Miller and Patrick Lindsey.

Glen's years living and working on the Vineyard prepared him to pursue his dreams in Colorado. He left for Telluride in the spring of 1992 and eventually built his own workshop powered by the sun and wind, perched on a cliff high above the San Miguel River in the town of Sawpit.

The workshop, Steeprock Builders (formerly Steeprock Jointery), grew to what Glen referred to as "his gang" -- a group of more than 30 artisans who supported a vision of creating sustainable buildings combined with renewable energy work.

Glen had an ingrained sense of what sustainability meant that was palpable and contagious. He had the invaluable skill of conveying the message and its urgency without losing optimism and the joyful sense of opportunity that accompanied that urgency. He not only knew the right direction that society must move in, but also pulled others along with him. And he pushed others, who were not eager to follow or who stood in the way, with the respectable strength of a statesman.

Glen matured into a man who not only spoke of social ideals, but also acted upon them with gusto.

Everywhere he went, Glen made a great and lasting impression. An inspiring individual, his huge smile and positive energy rubbed off on everyone he came into contact with. Glen was adventurous and outgoing. He challenged himself and others when skiing, flying, windsurfing, climbing and river running. He especially loved flying his little Cessna, which enabled him to see his family and friends more than ever.

He was Uncle Glen, Glenny, Glenno, Glenward, Daddy and a magical man whose favorite trick was to make ice cream fall from the sky.

Glen's father, Edwin L. Harcourt, predeceased him in 2001. In addition to his mother, Audrey Harcourt, four siblings, a niece, seven nephews and innumerable friends, Glen is survived by his wife and true love, Isabel, and two young sons, Thorne, two, and Weston, who was born on his father's 40th birthday.

A short ceremony will be held at the Katama Airfield on Saturday, March 18, at 3 p.m., followed by a celebration of Glen's life at the home of Gary and Kathryn Harcourt.