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Story summary
- Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest, died on April 7, 2026, in Port Townsend, Washington.
- He is known for his 1963 ascent with Sherpa Nawang Gombu, a milestone in American mountaineering.
- Whittaker joined REI as its first full-time employee and later served as CEO, expanding the co-op.
- He led the 1990 Everest International Peace Climb, championed wilderness protection in the Pacific Northwest.
