October 9, 2025
Johnny, a self-described “Jewish-Rasta-Zen-Quaker-Humanist,” passed away at home on July 10, 2025, surrounded by family. He was 74 years old. In the year since his cancer diagnosis he was cared for closely by his sons, Alex and Zack, and his former wife Caryn. In what would be his final days, Johnny wrote a farewell letter to his beloved solar family.
Johnny often said he felt lucky in life—and he meant it. Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey in 1951, he credited much of his joy to two loving older brothers, a tight-knit junior high friend group that stayed close for more than sixty years, his home family, his global solar family and a life filled with community, travel, friendship, mischief and meaning. He never felt the need to lock his house or car (the car was only stolen once), and he never lost his appetite for adventure.
Arriving by motorcycle with his best friend Kevin in the summer of 1972, he made Colorado and the Roaring Fork Valley his home. After building homes and teaching at Colorado Mountain College in 1991, he co-founded Solar Energy International (SEI) as a nonprofit. For almost two decades, thousands of students from all over the world traveled to SEI in Carbondale and later Paonia to learn solar energy and pursue careers in renewable energy. His passion was magnetic, his mentorship unwavering and his commitment to underserved communities foundational to everything he did.
Johnny reminded us that we must never lose sight of the communities still without reliable power, the schools still teaching by candlelight, the clinics still waiting for basic energy access. This is where his heart lived. Johnny often said that the world was our classroom—and he meant it. After retiring from SEI, Johnny continued to work with communities to bring solar energy to those who needed it most—from Maasai villages in Tanzania to sovereign Native American lands across the U.S. In May 2024, ASES awarded Johnny with our Code Development, Innovation, and Training Award in honor of Claudia Hansen Wentworth for his work propelling the solar industry forward by leading the charge in education.
Johnny reminded us that SEI was never just about solar energy technology. It was about community. It was about potlucks and networking with a global community of students who visited the SEI Paonia, Colorado Training Facility. It was about the connections made through the SEI Online Campus, serving thousands of students every year from all over the world. It was about finding your “solar tribe.” And above all, it was about creating a better world through education, connection, and relentless hope.
He was proud—so deeply proud—of how far we’d come together. From the early counterculture roots reading Home Power Magazine to SEI becoming a world-class solar training organization, Johnny never lost sight of the people at the center of it all. His passion was magnetic, his mentorship unwavering, and his commitment to underserved communities foundational to everything he did.
Highs and Lows: He skydived (high on mescaline), scuba dived 120 feet beneath the sea, telemarked snowy peaks, fly-fished wild rivers, and once unscrewed incandescent lightbulbs mid-ride on a slow-moving Disneyland attraction—because even on vacation, energy efficiency matters. He got as high and as low as a person could on this fragile, spinning blue-green orb we all call home.
Johnny believed in Love and Gravity—what Buckminster Fuller called the two most powerful forces in the universe. He believed in being of use, in community, in the sacred task of healing the world (Tikkun Olam, תיקון עולם), and in the importance of sharing good food, good ideas, and good high-quality cannabis. He was open about living with bipolar II, dyslexia, a long s-s-s-stutter, and a short stature—but what he lacked in height or technical precision, he more than made up for with boundless enthusiasm.
The past year became a gift: long phone calls with old friends, fly fishing, stargazing and visits from the people he loved most. He cherished this time deeply. The house was full of laughter, music, dogs, memories, and mismatched chairs pulled up for shared meals and stories. It gave him the chance to reflect, celebrate, and say goodbye on his own terms. In his final moments, Johnny expressed his love to all and said that he felt blessed.
Rest in peace, dear Johnny Weiss. You left us surrounded by love, and you leave behind a world still glowing with the warmth you gave it. Your vision is alive. Your people are ready. And your light will never go out.
With peace, with love, and with solar for all—
Ya mon.
Donations can be made to SEI’s Johnny Weiss Solar Energy Access for All Initiative providing scholarships to underserved populations around the world and deepening our commitment to developing world programs.