Just a couple years since our first work on the KSC beaches with Mario Mota, Shannon came to do some part-time work with East Coast Biologists, Inc. (ECB, our non-profit) - doing lighting surveys at Patrick Air Force Base, helping with green turtle foraging samples, and volunteering when we were catching juvenile green turtles. She became a member of the Board of Directors for ECB. She supported our outreach programs and was a genuine sea turtle and ‘all things underwater’ advocate. Her passion and love did not stop there – she loved the terrestrial critters too (snakes, lizards, tortoises, ducks) and even had a hand in wildlife rescues. She even raised a Florida duck from an egg we found floating on a raft in our pool! As long as she could, Shannon worked full-time for St. John’s River Water Management District doing water quality and seagrass monitoring. Shannon loved working in the Indian River Lagoon. She really cared about the status of the environment and conscientiously tried in her everyday life to make this world a better place. The world needs more Shannon Hacketts. There’s a huge hole in the lives of those of us who knew and loved her. I’m not sure that will ever go away. Rest in the sea and swim in the ocean, my friend – not a day goes by that I don’t think and miss your bright shining presence. We hold you forever in our hearts.

Your friend always, Karen.