In Memoriam – Rick Cameron
By Thomas Jelenić, Vice President, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association
When I joined the Port of Long Beach as an intern in 1997 Rick Cameron was my senior. He had taken on the role of Environmental Specialist Assistant, having been the intern before me. As befitting a person of his rank in a building that was deficient in so many areas (it was generally believed that the emergency stairs would be the first part of the building to fail in a major earthquake), Rick took the spot (you couldn’t call it a cubicle) next to the kitchenette. His chair sat in the hallway, his desk was essentially a shelf, and he could reach the Planning Division’s sink or coffee without getting up from his seat. As terrible as that may sound (and it was), Rick could enjoy the fact that he no longer occupied the intern spot which was so narrow you could not stand from your seat and the only light was a small desk lamp clamped to a cubicle wall (that was now my privilege).
Despite my lowly place, Rick was a mentor. As someone studying engineering, many planning concepts were befuddling to me (process? just build it!). As a planner by nature, Rick understood the process and took the time to explain laws like the Tidelands Trust Act and the California Coastal Act. Laws that I would later understand as underpinning the special role that California ports have in meeting the needs of all Californians while minimizing the impact of industrial operations. It is a surprisingly tough balancing act; the California ports have been placed in trust for the people of California with local jurisdictions that have local concerns (like Long Beach) but are supposed to administer the trust consistent with the statewide concerns and principles embodied in laws like the Tidelands Trust Act and the California Coastal Act. Rick understood that balance and demonstrated his leadership in implementing it.
That leadership and his support helped make my career possible. I worked for him when he became Manager of Environmental Planning. With Heather Tomley, now one of Long Beach’s Managing Directors, we were Rick’s deputies when he became Director. Naturally, Rick continued to rise becoming Deputy Executive Director. When my career brought me to PMSA, Rick’s support continued. My career and work have been intimately tied to Rick’s. For that, I am lucky.
Leaders at California’s ports come and go. Some of those leaders were principled and understood this fine balancing act. Many, unfortunately, served the interest of others. I am happy to say that Rick always and faithfully served the Port of Long Beach, understanding the balance
between the needs of the people of California and our local community. We are poorer without him, and I will miss him.