In Memoriam - John Nousaine

John Nousaine was a champion of disability rights advocacy and access in the Duluth- Superior region. Nousaine died this summer while diving at a shipwreck in Lake Superior off Isle Royale National Park. He was 70 years old and lived in Superior, Wisconsin.

Nousaine was the retired director of North Country Independent Living, now known as indigo. He was known for pushing for many initiatives including accessible sidewalks, transportation, assistive technology, managed care and a federal work-at-home program. He was involved with passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and was present at the ceremonial signing in Washington, D.C. in 1990.

A native of New York Mills, Nousaine lost a leg in a construction accident at the age of 24.

He served as director of North Country Independent Living for decades, retiring in 2019. During his tenure he pushed for numerous programs and legislation that supported people with disabilities in the region and nation. He was a leading advocate for independent living.

He was a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Nousaine was given the Citizen of the Year Award for the City of Superior in 2019.