Don Near

Don Near didn't set out to be a park ranger, but a combination of education, luck and timing put him on a path to his long-term career.

Near, a native of Little Falls, N.Y., was working as a waiter and enjoying the party scene in Key West, Fla., when a vacation took him to St. John's Maho Bay Camps in the early 1980s. Since he had taken classes in swimming and lifesaving as electives while studying for his bachelor's degree from the Environmental Science and Forestry College in Syracuse, he got a job as a lifeguard at Virgin Islands National Park.

After eight years keeping people safe at Trunk Bay Beach, in 1990 Near moved on to the park's Interpretive Division. He leads hikes to Reef Bay, works in other interpretive programs and puts in stints at the Visitor Center front desk. "It turned out to be a wonderful career I never thought I'd have. It fell into my lap," he says.

Near is also responsible for putting together the park's newspaper, writing copy for various brochures and developing wayside signs. He likes this aspect of his job because, although he didn't study journalism, he always enjoyed it.

Now 55, Near settled into life on St. John a long time ago. He says that he slowly began to appreciate the peace and quiet of the island. He still enjoys swimming, and the ease of getting to the beach is another attraction. "You just jump in," he says.

Near bought his piece of St. John land even before he moved here permanently. He spent years building his house, living initially in an 8-foot-by-8-foot wooden shack while he constructed his house.

He's spent many years landscaping and now gardens prodigiously. Indeed, he says he's grown so proficient he might get into the landscaping business when his park career ends.

These days, he also travels a lot. He returns often to the foothills of the Adirondacks where he was born, but also likes to visit more cosmopolitan places like San Francisco to enjoy to cultural aspects of the city.

With retirement looming in the not-too-distant future, Near said he plans to visit places he hasn't yet seen, but has no desire to leave St. John. He might volunteer at the park, lead independent tours and spend more time in his gardens. "This is home," he says. "I fell in love with the place."