Pioneering marine biologist Dennis Kellenberger dies

Dennis Kellenberger, a co-founder of the nonprofit Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and Chief Executive Officer for its first 25 years, died May 23 after a brief illness. He was 75.

A Clearwater native, Kellenberger served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam conflict, and upon his return earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from the University of West Florida.

In the late 1970s, he was instrumental in turning a former water treatment plant, donated by the city, into an conservation and educational center initially called the Marine Science Center.

He taught marine biology camps, established the first public exhibits and secured the federal permits that allowed the organization to begin rehabilitating injured dolphins and sea turtles.

Re-named the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the facility opened to the public in 1981.

The CMA’s first permanent resident was a fully-grown loggerhead sea turtle named Mo, rescued from Pier 60, where it had been kept in a small tank as an oddity for tourists.

In 1984, Kellenberger and his staff rescued a stranded bottlenose dolphin from Clearwater Harbor. Partially blind, the animal was deemed not releasable. Named Sunset Sam, he remained at Clearwater Marine Aquarium until his death from liver failure in 2001.

“You can serve both man and beast through working with the environment and wildlife,” Kellenberg told the St. Petersburg Times in a 2006 interview. “You meet so many good people who are dedicated to the cause of conservation. It’s something that makes common sense. If you want a better quality of life, you’ve got to work to protect it and enhance it and help it.”

Nicholas, another dolphin rescued during Kellenberger’s tenure, is still a resident of CMA today.

“His dedication extended to sea turtle conservation, nest monitoring, and one of the earliest successful captive breeding efforts involving the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle,” Aquarium administrators wrote in a social media post. “Offshore, he helped establish artificial reef systems using materials from the dismantled Sand Key Bridge — habitats that continue to thrive today.

“Dennis’ legacy lives on in every rescue, every rehabilitation, and every child inspired by our mission. The foundation he built continues to guide CMA’s work today.”

Kellenberger left CMA in 2004 and was named General Manager of Tampa Bay Watch, the nonprofit environmental watchdog and action group, where he remained for five years. At age 65, he earned a Masters in Management/Leadership, Business Administration and Management from Liberty University.

Most recently, he worked as Donation Relations Officer and spokesperson for Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranches, and as Director of Programs for the nonprofit Reef Monitoring, Inc., a group of scientists dedicated to monitoring the recovery rates of reefs after massive red tide blooms.

Kellenberger is survived by his wife, Carol, their children Dustin and Emily, and a granddaughter.

“He was smart, hardworking and loving,” Dustin Kellenberger said. “And he always did for others. He put everybody before himself.”

A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday, June 13 at Serenity Gardens in Largo.