Sweet Words from Herman van Betten

Every time my wife Pat and I look out of the windows into the garden, we think of Eddy because the more than one hundred Irises there remind us of the bucket of Irises Eddy gave us many years ago.

I had the honor of working with him for a number of years when I was dean of the Henderson Campus of CCSN. Eddy was one of the most popular and admired professors and the founder of the Environmental Technology program at the college. As a spokesperson for the environmental movement, Eddy was at the beginning of environmental awareness that has culminated in an increasing interest among students and residents of Southen Nevada.

He also inaugurated a degree program in Wastewater Treatment, a program that was very popular among professionals there with degrees in other areas, but who needed more specific coursework in their chosen profession. As a result Eddy and I were frequent visitors at Wastewater Treatment plant on Pabco Road. Eddy once pointed out to me a sign on one of the technicians' desk that read: "It may be shit to you, but it is my bread and butter."

Both of us were invited one time to a banquet of the Wastewater Treatment Association where I received a plaque honoring me with the "annual fecal award," an award that really should have gone to Eddy since he did all the work. It did show that people in that field have a good sense of humor.

When we got a tour of the plant, the general manager took us outside and showed the vast area around the plant with many luscious green acres, sprinkled by "grey water" of the plant. The manager then told us: "In twenty years developers will build thousands of homes here then they'll sue us for the smell that will permeate every home." And that, of course, is exactly what happened and we did not have to wait twenty years.

Eddy's untimely passing is a loss not only to his family but to all of us in Southern Nevada. I understand that his once successful Environmental Studies Program has withered into nothing, just at the time when global warming threatens to make life so much harder for our children and grandchildren.

Not only was Eddy a brilliant scientist and visionary, he was also a magnificent, kind and always cheerful human being. Eddy we will miss you.