Claude A. “Tony” Look, founding director of Sempervirens Fund

In 1968, in response to the threat of development on the slopes of Mount McAbee in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Tony and several dedicated conservationists revived the Sempervirens Club.  Joining forces with Dorothy Varian, Doris Leonard and George Collins of Conservation Associates, who were working to create a new state park (now Castle Rock SP), Tony formed Sempervirens Fund, whose mission become the preservation of the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains, enhancement of public enjoyment of Big Basin Redwoods and Castle Rock state parks and establishment of a trail system linking Big Basin, Castle Rock, Portola and Butano State Parks.

From the beginning, Tony served as volunteer director for the new Sempervirens Fund.  In 1974, leaving his pharmacy career behind, Tony started a ten-year stint as paid executive director of Sempervirens Fund, retiring in 1985.  “We progressed because we had a mission,” Tony said as he reminisced about his 18 years with the Fund.  “We came along at a time when there was tremendous pressure for development in the Santa Cruz Mountains.  We saw the other side – the need to preserve open space close to metropolitan areas where people could go to enjoy unspoiled nature.”

Tony served as Executive Director of Sempervirens Fund until his retirement in 1985.  After his retirement he continued to serve as Director of Land Affairs. He was responsible for establishing the annual California Trail Days when he organized the building of the Skyline-to-the-Sea trail.  Since then the trail systems in the Santa Cruz Mountains parks have expanded enormously.

Throughout his career, Tony was active in numerous conservation projects including the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club; the National Sierra Club, serving as an outing leader for summer trips to Wyoming, Scotland and Japan; the Audubon Society; and Committee for Green Foothills.

Tony received received several prestigious awards, including the California Department of Parks and Recreation Golden Bear Award in 1974, the California Wildlife Federation Forest Conservationist of the Year Award in 1970, the Special Merit Award in 1969 from the California Conservation Council, and the William Colby Award from the National Sierra Club in 1968.

Tony was born in Eureka, California on December 15, 1917, and attended school in Humboldt County. He graduated from UC Berkeley College of Pharmacy in 1939 and served in the Air Corp during World War II as a Supply Officer in South America. He married Mildred Orton in 1941. Their daughter, Andrea Elliott, lives in Washington and Dennis Look, their son, lives in California.

via:: Sempervirens Fund

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