March 24, 1952 - November 23, 2022

John Hughes LeCavalier, beloved husband, father, educator, and lifelong environmental advocate, died Nov. 23, 2022 of complications related to an undetected advanced stage of leukemia. He died peacefully at home close to family.

John was born in 1952 to Alma and Wilfred LeCavalier in Atascadero, Calif., and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He completed a degree in forestry from Utah State University and, after some adventurous years as a carpenter with his wife and young son, returned to Salt Lake City to become a science teacher at Judge Memorial.

In 1989 the family moved to Portland, Ore., and John became the new biology teacher at Oregon Episcopal School. He developed a reputation as a dynamic educator who immersed his students in the experiential dimensions of science. After nearly a decade at OES, John became the executive director of the Environmental Learning Center at Clackamas Community College. In 2005 he joined Expeditionary Learning as a school designer and then as regional director. This position brought him to schools throughout the West where he worked with faculty to develop forward-thinking curricula that have positively impacted thousands of students.

John was a passionate environmentalist and outdoorsman. Observing the natural world was a source of endless fascination for him and he was devoted to helping others find that same joy of discovery. He was founding president of Fans of Fanno Creek, an advocacy group dedicated to promoting and protecting urban waterways. In recent years, he was highly active with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. An avid telemark skier, backpacker, and river rafter, he was outside constantly.

At his home near Mt. Tabor, he was always looking to improve things and, over the years, built a sauna, a shed, and a workshop for his emerging enthusiasm for wood carving. He loved gardening and grilling and sitting by an outdoor fire with a bottle of his not-always-successful home brew.

John is survived by his son, Jesse; granddaughter, Aomi; and the love of his life, Rebecca (née Broman), whom he met in an anthropology class at the University of Utah. They were married within six months and have remained together for 50 years.

A memorial service will be held at a future date.

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