The man who brought concerts and farmers markets to Tahoe City’s Commons Beach, and who made it his mission to generate more recreational opportunities for the North Lake Tahoe community, died at his home on Aug. 23 following a heart attack.

John Reichert, a Carnelian Bay resident, will be remembered as a recreational visionary who worked to create community synergy through outdoor activity.

Now that vision is being carried out through a recent partnership between the North Tahoe Public Utility District and the Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation, two groups that are working together to raise financial support for a variety of recreational projects in Kings Beach and Tahoe Vista, said Kathy Long, the district’s parks and facilities manager.

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As a tribute to Reichert, staff will request the utility district’s board of directors establish a separate fund in Reichert’s name to subsidize a snowboard park at the North Tahoe Regional Park ” a project Reichert worked eagerly toward, Long said.

The board may consider the request at the Sept. 9 meeting, Long said.

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The 63-year-old was not an avid snowboard himself, but “wanted to do this for the kids,” said wife Susan Fitzgerald Reichert.

“Every place John lived, he put 100 percent of himself into the community,” she said.

In addition to working for the North Tahoe Public Utility District as a recreation and parks commissioner, Reichert also served as a consultant for the Tahoe City Public Utility District where he made it his business to bring music and a farmers market to Commons Beach, said Ed Miller, friend and fellow volunteer at the Sunday concert series.

“John and I always used to say ‘you’re never too old to rock n’ roll’,” Miller recalled. “As soon as we met, I knew we were going to be good buddies.”

In lieu of flowers, the Reichert family is asking community members to send donations to the utility district’s recreation and parks commission and the Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation’s “Friends of the Park Fund.”

A memorial service for John Reichert will be held at Commons Beach on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Friends of the Park Fund. Make checks payable to the Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation, noting “Friends of the Park John Reichert Memorial Fund” on the memo line.