Whidbey Island has lost a great deal of institutional knowledge this year.

This week people across Whidbey Island are mourning the loss of Larry Cort, who passed away at age 60.

Cort grew up on the island and worked as the planning director in both Coupeville and Langley, where he helped shaped the growth of the communities. More recently, he led Oak Harbor as the city administrator. He served on the Coupeville Town Council, was active in the community and was truly beloved by his friends.

San de Fuca resident Earle Darst passed away last week at age 96. As a community elder, he had invaluable insights into the island’s past. His great-grandfather was Capt. Edward Barrington, an important figure in Oak Harbor’s history.

Darst was known for his decades in the bulb farming industry and helped found the Island County Historical Society.

Betty Freund passed away in August at the age of 96. In addition to raising four children and helping to run the family farm, she was involved in a wide range of community organizations, particularly those that supported women and education.

Betty Freund was modest and unselfish but unflinching in her convictions.

“Betty Freund worked continuously, courageously and humbly for a ‘peaceful world.’ And she remained hopeful that education-driven change would create a better place for all living on our fragile planet,” her obituary stated perfectly.

Don Boyer passed away in July at the age of 85. He was a well-known businessman in Oak Harbor since the 1950s and ran a successful car dealership.

Boyer was active in a long list of community organizations for many decades, including Oak Harbor and North Whidbey Elks, Oak Harbor Elks Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion George Morris Post.

All of these individuals made great and lasting contributions to their community and will be missed.

They leave Whidbey Island and the world a better place.