Linda E. Christenson, environmental attorney
Linda E. Christenson of Rehoboth Beach passed away peacefully at home Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, after a gallant fight against non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Linda was an environmental attorney with over 30 years of legal, corporate and association management experience, including directing government relations and public affairs. She was a registered lobbyist before the U.S. Congress and multiple federal agencies; licensed in the District of Columbia and state of Colorado and admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, D.C. Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the state of Colorado.
Most recently, she was the executive director of the Pride of Baltimore Inc. for 10 years. Linda was most proud of raising $10 million for operating and educational program expenses in addition to $600,000 in a capital campaign to restore the vessel in 2006 after a catastrophic accident. She absolutely loved sailing, being on the water and representing Maryland, Baltimore and the Pride around the world at various events.
Linda’s career centered on advocating for clean water, proper landfill solutions and the like. She started her career in 1984 as manager of federal government affairs with Adolph Coors Company in Colorado; moved to the Washington, D.C. area as counsel, Environment & Natural Resources Practice Group for Kilpatrick & Cody Law Firm. Linda was executive director for her own consultancy Landfill Solutions Group, International Association of Environmental Testing Labs and International Cemetery & Funeral Association.
Linda received her juris doctor from University of Connecticut School of Law, master’s program in public policy from Trinity College, and her bachelor of arts in history and higher education from Wittenberg University.
Linda bought her beach home in 1987, moving there permanently in 2012, and was passionate about the area. She volunteered at the annual Rehoboth Beach Film Festival, was active with a golf league, restaurant club, could be found watching the dolphins off Cape Henlopen State Park, and was pursuing solutions for the ocean clean-up project to address plastic islands in the oceans.
Linda was very close with her family and friends. She is survived by her partner, Theodora Braver of Rehoboth Beach; her mother Jeanne E. Christenson of Hilton Head Island, S.C.; her sister Laura Christenson of Ridgewood, N.J.; niece and grand-niece, Dana and Gwendolyn, also of Ridgewood, and her much loved Portuguese dog Mandy. Linda’s lifelong friends were also able to spend time with her during her final days.
A burial at sea is planned in Hilton Head, S.C., and a celebration of life in Rehoboth Beach next month. Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Lewes.
Please visit Linda's Life Memorial Webpage and sign her online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
