We are saddened to report the death of Roland vom Dorp. Roland served on the Board of Directors of Hills For Everyone for many years. A lifelong resident of La Habra Heights, he was a business owner, an avid hiker and dedicated conservationist.

In the 1990s, Roland led the effort in La Habra Heights to stop a housing project that would have severed the Wildlife Corridor. He then went on to be sure that Powder Canyon was safely protected in the hands of the Habitat Authority.

Our most vivid memory of him was at a public outreach meeting held by Aera Energy at the Diamond Bar Community Center. Aera put on a dog and pony show touting its 3,600 unit housing project that would have covered the hills along the 57 Freeway between Brea and Diamond Bar. After listening for a long while, Roland stood up in the back of the room and, in his loud booming voice, he asked people who were against the project to stand up. (See photo below). Nearly the entire audience did just that and we captured that moment in a much-used photograph.

He took it upon himself to successfully lobby to get an article on our preservation efforts into the National Geographic magazine in October 2000. It was always a pleasure to work with him and hear his insights on many important issues over the years.

Services are planned for Sunday, August 3 at 10 AM PST by Zoom. Please register online.