From “digging” deep in community connections to years of dedication to environmental ethics, Andrew “Andy” Jameton, PhD, laid the foundation for substantial growth and development.
In November 2022, Jameton passed away at age 79 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Deeply saddened by this news, City Sprouts, Inc. began gathering stories to pay tribute to Jameton, who co-founded the organization.
Some of City Sprouts’ earliest gardeners, peers and board members recalled fond pastimes with Jameton. “He was absolutely one of a kind,” said Ellen Duysen. “Without his tremendous thinking, this [City Sprouts] would have never happened.”
Jameton took City Sprouts under his wing and gathered people who were fascinated by gardening and uplifting the community. “His desire to enhance food security and community engagement merged with his desire to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change in lower-income neighborhoods,” said Rebecca Anderson. “He felt that strong communities were essential to thriving, and believed that gardening together would not only yield fresh produce, but also promote physical activity and cohesion among neighbors.”
Soon, more and more neighbors began showing up to the garden with a desire to get involved. As an unexpected gift, a local philanthropist purchased and donated the home in which City Sprouts still resides today. The organization was quickly growing and evolving.
There was a renewed interest in bettering the space. Anderson and Jeanine Dickes were tasked with redesigning the garden. Jameton continued efforts in securing grant funding, allowing more opportunities than ever before. Thanks to donations (e.g., native plants, shrubs, and more), incredible volunteers, and the hard work of City Sprouts’ earliest stakeholders, the organization and its home were revitalized.
As Duysen stated, City Sprouts’ growth and development as an organization, dedicated to serving communities in need, would not have been possible without the tremendous groundwork laid by Jameton and many others. “Andy approached everything with curiosity, a fresh perspective, and an open heart,” Anderson said.
The touching memories and stories shared with City Sprouts described Jameton as an intellectual big-thinker, skilled dancer, caring friend, and so much more.
“All of us at City Sprouts are grateful to Andy for his vision in the founding of the organization,” said Katie Kresha, Executive Director of City Sprouts. “We honor his legacy as we continue his work to build community through gardening, engagement, and resource sharing; he will be greatly missed.”
Andrew Jameton, PhD, was an emeritus faculty member and longtime professor in UNMC’s Department of Health Promotion, Social and Behavioral Health in the College of Public Health. His research focused on ethical issues in health care and public health, such as the unequal impacts of environmental degradation and ecologically-responsible medicine. Read more about him here.
Andy was the real deal. Authentic. Courageous. Brainiac smart with huge heart. Among my first and best teachers in Omaha. He planted seeds in all of us. And we sprout mightily. Across generations of activists for social Justice. May our love and gratitude endure. May Dr Jameton’s memory be a blessing. And May his stories long be told.
So sad to hear about Andy’s passing. I will miss the conversations we had in our offices, in the hallways and out in Omaha. What a gentle soul! What intellect! What a breadth of knowledge he commanded! My reading list just grew and grew after every conversation. He loved books, he loved learning, and loved teaching. Thank you for the beautiful discussions. Thank you for your humanity. Until again, happy travels Andy!