Obituary of Dakota John Stormer
Dakota John “Cody” Stormer of Houston, Texas, was born February 26, 1995, to Deanna Ellen Dick and Eric William Stormer. Dakota was diagnosed with lung cancer at the end of June of 2021 and passed away on September 3, 2021, after contracting Radiation Pneumonitis from treatments by MD Anderson Cancer Center.
From the age of 7, Dakota fought against climate change by influencing his classmates with projects and presentations. As he grew older, he promoted sustainability through organizations and institutions. Dakota started a nationally recognized environmental program through Rotary International when he was only 14 years of age. He graduated as valedictorian from Magnolia West High School in 2013 and was awarded full-funding for his college tuition through several scholarships: Shell Technical Scholarship, Dick Rothwell Endowed Scholarship in Chemical Engineering, RMEL Foundation Baccalaureate Scholarship, Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation District's Conservation Scholarship, Gulf Coast Mensa Scholarship, and numerous others.
Dakota's efforts were recognized on several occasions as he became the recipient of numerous honors: The Texas Environmental Excellence Award, Rotary Youth Leadership Prize, UNLEASH Global Talent, Al Gore's Climate Reality Leadership Corps, EPA's State Title of Texas Environmental Ambassador, President's Gold Service Award, Roden Leadership Program's Innovations Competition winner, and countless other awards and recognitions.
Dakota was also well-educated in his field. In 2017, he graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, specializing in both environmental engineering and alternative energy. In 2019, he earned a Master's degree in Energy Policy & Climate at Johns Hopkins University.
Dakota began work with Shell Oil Company in 2017 as an intern and later became a Carbon Opportunities Analyst. In this role, he led the charge teaching employees strategies to reduce their ecological footprint. During his tenure at Shell, he also directed The Future Energy Lions, a grassroots group dedicated to environmental sustainability. Dakota was chairman of the Houston Chapter and helped advance Shell to the next level in clean energy.
In 2020, he became the founder and CEO of his own company, The Footprint App., Inc., designed to help corporations and individuals minimize their carbon footprint.
Dakota also founded four organizations and served on the board of over ten community and educational associations across the United States, including Global Environmental Brigades and a Keep Texas Beautiful affiliate. Dakota led countless successful sustainability campaigns within these roles, including a food waste reduction campaign, a reduction campaign for carbon emissions, and an energy efficiency campaign that received state-wide recognition from the Texas Environmental Excellence Awards.
Aside from leadership and activism, Dakota also worked on multiple innovation projects, including the solar tracking project that eventually won Shell Ideas360, an international innovation competition. He was featured multiple times in the Houston Chronicle and was nominated by Forbes Under 30. His life’s accomplishments tell of his mission to make the earth a better place for us all.
Dakota had a passion for climate change, but he also loved music and socializing. During his college years, he started his own a cappella groups, Fuse A Cappella and Harmonation, where he quickly formed bonds with a talented group of young musicians.
When Dakota wasn't tackling global climate challenges, he was spending time with family. He enjoyed Schlitterbahn, eating delicious food, visiting escape rooms, playing games, and simply being with the ones he loved.
Dakota was preceded in death by his grandmother, Jane McNair Stormer. He is survived by his mother, Deanna Dick; father, Eric Stormer and his wife, Kelli; grandparents, David and Tatyana Dick, Mike and Ellen Silhan, and Dr. John C. Stormer; aunt, Crystal Douglas and her husband, Joe; aunt, Karen Brooks and her husband, Scott; uncle, Eric Dick and his wife, Danielle; and uncle, David Dick, Jr.; as well as numerous cousins.
A viewing and visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m., Friday, September 17, 2021 at Joseph J. Earthman Generations, 234 Westcott Street in Houston, Texas.
A funeral service will be held at 12:00 noon, Saturday, September 18, 2021 in the Sanctuary at Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway in Houston, Texas. A livestream of the funeral service will begin at 11:45 a.m. and may be attended through www.second.org/liveevents. Dakota will then be laid to rest at Glenwood Cemetery, 2525 Washington Avenue in Houston, Texas.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 6:30 p.m., September 18, 2021 at the Majestic Metro, 911 Preston Street, in downtown Houston, Texas.
To continue Dakota's mission, donations may be made to the Footprint App., at footprintapp.org. To honor his legacy, contributions may also be sent to the Dakota Stormer Scholarship Fund, with The Memorial-Spring Branch Rotary Club, by sending a check to Memorial-Spring Branch Rotary Charities, Inc., at P. O. Box 79172, Houston, Texas 77279, or by Zelle to donatetocharities@msbrotary.org.
Cody's family wishes to express their gratitude to all of his beloved friends for their help through this challenging time. When Cody needed your help, you came in droves. You gave unconditionally. You prayed unceasingly, and he felt your prayers. He did not deserve the ugly disease, but he did deserve your beautiful love, and we will be forever grateful.