Slain Mendocino County environmentalist remembered as likeable, dedicated

<p>Mendocino Land Trust officials and volunteers were struggling Tuesday to come to grips with the death of staffer Matthew Coleman, who was shot to death last week while working on a remote Mendocino Coast ranch owned by Save the Redwoods League.</p><p>“Like everybody else, I'm flabbergasted,” said Betty Stechmeyer, a volunteer with land trust.</p><p>Coleman was a land steward and coordinator of volunteers for the organization for about six years. He previously worked for the Fish and Game department.</p><p>Coleman is believed to have been clearing brush from one of many roads on the 400 acre oceanfront ranch, located about 10 miles north of Westport, when he was killed.</p><p>The Mendocino Land Trust has a contract to maintain the property for Save the Redwoods League.</p><p>“We were obviously shocked and deeply saddened” by Coleman's death, said Ruskin Hartley, executive director of the league.</p><p>Mendocino County Sheriff's officials continue to search for answers and suspects, said Capt. Kurt Smallcomb.</p><p>He would not say whether marijuana was found growing in the immediate area or could have contributed to Coleman's death. But “where don't they grow in Mendocino County,” Smallcomb said.</p><p>Stechmeyer said the potential for stumbling upon one of Mendocino County's ubiquitous illegal marijuana gardens is always a concern.</p><p>Coleman often worked in remote areas alone, clearing brush and the invasive plants he despised. Scotch and French broom were at the top of his list of dislikes, Stechmeyer said.</p><p>Friends and co-workers describe Coleman as dedicated, hardworking and likable.</p><p>He was passionate about restoring land to its natural state and resuscitating endangered fish populations, said Winston Bowen, president of the Mendocino Land Trust.</p><p>“A lot of what he did was scientific research,” including bird and fish surveys, Bowen said.</p><p>Stechmeyer recalled that he would stop in the middle of a conversation to call attention to a bird call that no one else could yet hear.</p><p>Coleman was kind, thoughtful and optimistic, Stechmeyer said. He would tackle the toughest of brush clearing jobs himself such as poison oak even though he was highly allergic, she said.</p><p>“He was a big puppy dog. Every inch of him had love and respect,” Stechmeyer said.</p><p>Coleman will be hard to replace and some of his restoration projects are expected to be delayed by his death.</p><p>“To fill his shoes, I think that's something the trust is going to have to look at once they get over the shock of the situation at hand,” Stechmeyer said.</p>