In Memoriam: Greg Franta

RMI has established the Greg Franta Leadership Fund to honor and continue Greg's work and legacy. In lieu of flowers and other contributions, gifts may be made to this fund.

With support from the Greg Franta Leadership Fund, Rocky Mountain Institute continues work on its forthcoming book, "Cool Buildings for a Cooler Planet". The estimated publication date is 2010 and will include a tribute to Greg and his leadership in transforming buildings.

Prior to his sudden and tragic death in March 2009, Greg was actively working on this book and was eagerly anticipating its publication. With support from the donors listed below, who have generously supported this Fund in Greg's memory, Greg's goal for a book about how to implement integrative design in buildings will become reality.

Donors to the Greg Franta Leadership Fund

"I want to try to remember Greg during those really tough moments. Those moments when you're stressed, when you're concerned about walking into a room to give a presentation to a hostile group, when you're in the middle of a meeting heading downhill fast. Because those are the moments that Greg simply brushed off and charged ahead."

Many stories and reflections, like this one from RMI consultant Caroline Fluhrer, daily fill the halls of RMI as the Institute grieves the tragic loss of Greg Franta, RMI senior vice president. Greg, who was in a car accident in February, was found dead in his Honda Civic Hybrid on March 9 near Golden, Colorado. Greg was a visionary leader at RMI and in the world.

"Greg's positive approach in handling nearly any situation is a quality I find myself reflecting on daily. 'How would Greg handle this?' is almost an automatic sub-conscious response," says Jason Hainline, who worked with Greg at ENSAR, as he recalls how Greg prepared him for his current position as vice president of sustainable design & development services at EMSI, an international green building and sustainable community design consulting firm. "More or less, I'm doing exactly what Greg taught me while at ENSAR. I was introduced to EMSI through ENSAR."

Greg's life is marked by his influence on many careers, and by countless professional accolades and prestigious awards. His staff cherished him not only as a great inspiration and mentor, but perhaps above all, as a great friend.

"He was a great listener, whether about boyfriends, project proposals, or career goals. He always wanted to support everyone he met in any way he could, with no judgment or expectations," Fluhrer says.

According to RMI Analyst Eric Maurer, Greg often asked groups of people, from his staff to charette participants, the same basic question: "Tell us about something that's not on your resume."

"I think this basic question says a lot about Greg," says Maurer. "He could make a connection with ANYONE and he was sincerely interested in getting to know EVERYONE.

"His amazing smile and (deliberate) goofiness ensured that he got through to, connected with and endeared himself to just about anyone -- from a seemingly stern hotel receptionist of Eastern European origin in London to a hard-nosed business executive in Honolulu or New York (or any city you pick)," says RMI Senior Consultant Aalok Deshmukh, who traveled with Greg extensively.

"Anyone who traveled with Greg knows, he could be with you, up late, working and partying until 3 am and back up again and at work the next day at breakfast at 7 am, fresh, smiling, cheery, day after day after day," Deshmukh continues.

"We figured it was, in part, the copious amounts of caffeine he'd consume; but really, at the bottom of it, was an individual that was just amazingly high on life, who really loved doing what he was doing. Most of us should feel lucky if we managed to drum up about half the amount of motivation and energy he had and achieve half as much as he did in his life, or travel to about half as many places."

Says RMI Consultant Cher Seruto, "Greg was a citizen of the earth itself, traveling the planet on an absurd schedule, always ready for the next adventure." Seruto collaborated with Greg on his forthcoming book, "Cool Buildings for A Cooler Planet".

While he deeply loved to be in motion, he was always missing his loved ones during his travels, recalls RMI Consultant Kendra Tupper.

"I am very much a morning person, and tend to come in early rather than work late," she says. "Greg was often in the office in the early dawn hours as well preparing for one of his many business trips, and without fail, each time he spoke about this travel, he mentioned his reluctance to leave his 'honey' or 'sweetheart' or 'love of my life.' I will always remember Greg in that way," says Tupper, "wistfully missing his beloved wife Jana before every business trip, but continuing to travel because of his deep commitment to the work that RMI does."

While traveling around with Greg may have helped prepare his staff with technical skills for working in the green building industry and with people skills and problem solving skills for handling a variety of professional situations, Greg always managed to mix in much richer inspiration and mentorship for his staff.

Former ENSAR staffer Jason Hainline likes to tell a classic Greg story about a time he traveled with Greg to work on a project in Eagle:

"It had been very overcast and cold that day we visited the site. Literally, as we rounded the corner to Vail, the sun popped out of the clouds and Vail Mountain lit up. Greg nearly stopped the car right then and there to run to the ski lifts to get a quick downhill in. I was almost frightened how excited he got. It just so happens he had strapped the skis on the hood 'just in case.' Needless to say, we put aside work for the few remaining hours of the afternoon and Greg taught me how to ski! After spending some time watching me pick myself up off the snow, I sat in the lodge while Greg took his turn. You could hear him from INSIDE the lodge as he came down the blacks yelling 'WHOOOHOOOOOO.'"

"I think it's important for us to remember Greg in his spirit and attitude, but also his life's work," says RMI Principal James Scott Brew. "Greg convinced me to join him at RMI in 'saving the planet' because here I could live Greg's adage: 'making a living is important, but sooner or later it becomes more important to make a difference.'"

As green building and sustainability come to the forefront of issues and culture in the world, Greg's pioneering work setting early environmental standards for building and influencing organizations, businesses, governments and individuals gains momentous power every passing day. So many of Greg's staff, former staff, and people in the world he touched with his message and teaching will passionately continue to pursue his dreams of building a more sustainable world and strive to follow his stellar example of enjoying and embracing life on earth.

"He made a deep connection with so many people, it is hard to imagine the sheer quantity of lives he has touched," says Seruto. "We all loved him, and everyone was a better person for knowing him. He loved life, his work, and his family more than anyone I have ever known, and this was contagious."

--Molly Miller