Early this year, Bainbridge Prepares lost a dear friend and colleague. Marit Saltrones died on January 2 in her Seattle apartment after a long illness. She was 69.

BP Founder Scott James reflected on the loss: “Marit was one of our early key leaders in Bainbridge Prepares. She was a consummate organizer of people and projects, always positive, and extremely smart.” Marit helped launch our early neighborhood emergency preparedness effort, Bainbridge Prepared Neighborhoods.

A Career Dedicated to Emergency Preparedness and Response

Marit’s involvement in emergency preparedness began in the late 1980s and 1990s when she served as operations manager and as an executive producer for Lockert-Jackson and Associates, where she produced Emergency Medical Update soon after the program was created by Ellen Lockert and Nina Jackson. In addition, with Lockert and Jackson, she created Safety Watch. Both were award-winning distance learning programs to serve the needs of emergency and OSHA-mandated industrial safety markets.

That passion for emergency response training and support continued throughout her career. She co-founded JSL Communications & 24-7 EMS in 2002 with Jackson and Lockert to develop online and classroom training tools targeted to the EMS and fire communities.

As VP of Business Development at the Health & Safety Institute between 2008 and 2010, she helped transition 24-7 EMS from her company into HSI brands and also developed 24-7 Fire and First Safety Institute product lines for HSI.

Between 2012 and 2014, she served on the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services in Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Active Islander

When living on Bainbridge for 30 years, Marit was a dedicated Islander. She was Rotary Club president from 2002 to 2003. She also served on the Rotary PR and Communications Committee and was a member of the Training Committee for the 2012 District Leadership Training Assembly. She chaired the Public Relations team for the Annual Fundraising Auction & Rummage Sale and managed the buildout of the Rotary Club’s website. In addition, Marit was a member of the PR Committee for Rotary District 5020, serving Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and Western Washington.

She worked as the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art Business Manager for three years and served on the board of Sustainable Bainbridge for four.

A “Renaissance Woman”

Marit grew up near Tacoma. She graduated from Evergreen State College where she founded the school paper and the Women’s Health Center. She and her former partner Martha Walters raised their beloved Boston terrier Pearl together, taking Pearl on all their road and camping trips.

A practical joker, matchmaker, poet, former hippie, savvy tech user, baker, cook, and canner, Marit is survived by her brother Erik Saltrønes and sister Annee Ness; nephews Leif (Stephanie) and Olin (Jessica) Saltrønes; Leif’s & Stephanie‘s children Ash, Arron, and Kaitlynn; and her godsons Dashiell and Tristan.

A Facebook obituary called her “a renaissance woman. She was a marvelous combination of creativity, optimism, and an overarching belief in being her best self.” Scott remembered that “She was also a big believer in our ‘preparedness through parties’ approach, serving up delicious food and amazing cocktails for everyone.” He added, “She will be sorely missed.“

Safe travels, Marit.