<b>Fetzer Vineyards Long-Time Environmental Leader Passes Away
Patrick Healy Led Fetzer’s Green Revolution For Decades</b>
Hopland, Calif. (Nov. 19, 2007) — For over three decades Patrick Healy has been one of the most recognizable faces of Fetzer Vineyards, first as the affable manager of Fetzer’s Hopland Tasting Room, and later as one of the earliest advocates for Fetzer’s now legendary sustainable business practices. On Nov. 10, after fighting a long bout with cancer, Patrick Healy lost the battle and passed away at home. He is survived by his wife Charlotte, son Aran and close family friend Elisja Wilhite. A memorial service will be held at St. Mary’s Church Hall in Ukiah on Sunday, Dec. 2 from 1-4 p.m.
The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, the Ukiah Volunteer Hospice, PO Box 763, Ukiah, CA 95482 or the Phoenix Hospice Center, 1 Madrone Street, Willits, CA 95490.
In the national environmental community Patrick Healy is known for helping Fetzer Vineyards become a “Zero Waste” company, creating a progressive recycling program that reduced company waste to landfills by over 95% during a period of sustained growth for Fetzer. He helped Fetzer become an early adopter of onsite solar power and clean energy, leading the winery to become one of the few using 100% clean (carbon-free) energy for the winery production and bottling facilities, including the wine industry’s largest solar array. And he advocated and helped Fetzer build a green administration building that was one of the world’s early large-scale examples of rammed-earth construction and extensive use of recycled materials including timber, paint, even flooring.
“We were blessed to have Patrick with us at Fetzer,“ said Cindy DeVries, Fetzer’s General Manager. “His leadership, service and passion is reflected in every green thing we do at the winery.”