Jack Keating

As president of the nonprofit organization Newport Bay Naturalists

and Friends, Jack Keating takes his job as protector of the bay quite

seriously, donating 30 hours a week to his favorite cause -- fighting

for the sanctity of the Upper Newport Bay through education and

restoration.

His interest in the Back Bay started in 1964, when he purchased

his house in Newport Beach, which he and his wife of 50 years still

live in today. The one point that sold him on the new home was being

told that he could walk from his home down to his boat.

At that point in his life, he was busy working for McDonnell

Douglas, from which he retired in 1990 after 39 years as an engineer

in the aerospace department.

“The highlight of my career was working on the third stage of the

Saturn Launch Vehicle when we sent a man to the moon,” he said.

While most people wouldn’t equate being an aerospace engineer as

good training for being an environmentalist, he would disagree.

“I was fascinated with the environmental aspects of the bay and

the wildlife there,” Keating said. “Being an engineer made me look at

how it all worked together.”

Keating started off his volunteer work by educating himself about

the bay and the battles that had taken place over the years with the

Irvine Co. This was very important as he learned just a couple of

people could make a huge difference.

As the president of a group of 175 volunteers, he now works toward

educating people about the bay and how to save it from pollutants,

urban runoff, silt and accidental damage to the environment.

He is also in charge of raising funds for the restoration of the

bay, maintenance of the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center and

general funding for the organization and projects.

Another part of his work requires meetings with both city and

county officials to develop strategies and oversee implementation.

Keating works hard to ensure that the three different organizations

work together to form a management coalition with the primary

objective being to preserve the bay.

“I get the most satisfaction knowing that what we’ve done is the

best for Upper Newport Bay,” he said.

-- Story by Todd Karella; Photo by Steve McCrank