In Memory of Bunny Sterin

“The first river you paddle runs through you for the rest of your life. It bubbles up in pools and eddies to remind you of who you are.” - Lynn Noel

On Sunday, August 29, our amazing sister, aunt and friend Bunny Sterin lost her 3-year, courageous battle with lung cancer.

Bunny was born and raised in Swampscott, MA but when she headed west for college, she never looked back! She graduated from the University of Denver with a BA in Biology and Utah State University with a MS in Watershed Science. Bunny’s career spanned over 35 years working for the government and private organizations, with the majority spent at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) taking care of our country’s majestic rivers. She was also heavily involved with the River Management Society whose mission is to support professionals who study, protect, and manage North America’s rivers.

Bunny received many awards, one in particular was for coordinating a group called the Eagle River Rescue. It was an extraordinary group of police, military and civilian, fire rescue, state troopers and park rangers. Since its inception, this group has saved many lives along the Eagle River just outside of Anchorage, Alaska.

Bunny spent 10 years as a volunteer ski patroller at Alyeska (one of the most difficult mountains open to the public) learning avalanche and mountaineering skills, as well as providing emergency care. She was considered one of the best and most beloved by her fellow patrollers.

Bunny was an avid kayaker and white water rafter who competed on the U.S. White Water Rafting Team in Turkey! She spent her life traveling all over the world seeking adventures that most people only dream of. She ran the Grand Canyon five times (on her own permit), swam with humpback whales in Tonga, skied double black diamonds in Jackson Hole, paddled in Patagonia, and watched the sunrise at the base of the Himalayas. She was also an incredible wildlife photographer who captured on film one of the rarest animals on planet earth - a Spirit Bear - in British Columbia. She even hunted a buffalo!

Bunny was a tremendous adventurer and very comfortable in the wilderness. She slept more often on the ground than in her own bed. She had a genuine love for the outdoors and was a passionate advocate for rivers. She requested that a scholarship be established for the River Management Program at Utah State University. We invite you to join us in making a donation to the “Bunny Sterin Scholarship for River Management” in her memory. We hope this scholarship will help the next generation of river managers and carry on Bunny’s legacy of advocacy.

Thank you for your support! 

To remember Bunny, donations can be made to the Bunny Sterin Scholarship in the S. J. Quinney College of Natural Resources.  The scholarship benefits students who are pursuing a degree in river management.