Harriet Burgess Guestbook

Name: Richard Berryessa
Date: 07/05/10
Comments: Just last month in June I found out about Harriet from my daughter Amy Robe whose husband Steve is Harriet cousin. Even though I never met her I have enjoyed her devoted work to save the beauty of California Eastern Sierra's (Bridgeport) and many, many other areas. The ALC Picture in the Photo Gallery top center with the snow cap mountains and horses in the foreground is a site I have always enjoyed heading to our camp site on Robinson Creek. Thank you Harriet. Aloha Rich

Name: Craig Collins
Date: 05/20/10
Comments: First, let me apologize for this late entry, as I was traveling when I heard about Harriet, and then under the weather on my return. There’s no way to begin describing the astonishing accomplishments of this remarkable individual, but I can try to make it a bit more personal. If only there was a way to capture and distribute her ability to see every opportunity and every challenge as something that simply had to be taken on and met, the world would be such a better place. I’ve seen her in victories large and small, facing the almost unimaginable challenge of her daughter’s terrible auto accident, creating ALC after leaving TPL to continue her life’s work, and helping me understand issues that seemed insurmountable… I could go on and on, as could many of you. Yet in every event, her humility, grace, wit, charm, and above all sparkling eyes defined the moment. She came into my life when I was heavily involved working to preserve the Columbia River Gorge, and she initiated TPL’s purchases of extraordinary lands that were a key accomplishment in driving the larger campaign for preservation. One day, I took her for a tour of the entire Gorge. We stopped to see what was one of my small pet projects, a long tunnel on the old spectacular Scenic Highway that had been closed and filled. I’d hoped this could be an issue that would attract a politically wide range of supporters, from Senator Mark Hatfield to others less conservation-minded. A quick look and her words struck like lightning: “It just has to be restored!” Of course, it did eventually come to pass, and it even bears Senator Hatfield’s name. But there it was: It just HAS to happen. Those words became a mantra for me, and moreover, it was a moment of her giving me the permissions to do what I needed to do with my life. Not long after, as I was transitioning from organizational work to beginning a career in photography, she hired me to photograph the first Gorge property for TPL. Soon I had done my first real annual report cover! Many more photo projects followed, and I hope I put as much of myself into each of those as she would have expected, and that I infused the images with the powerful emotional connection that drove her own work. So I can say that for me, she made my own life happen. Just another day’s work for Harriet Burgess. The last day I saw her, as her disease was just beginning, a few more well-placed words still resonate strongly: “We had a lot of fun. Yes, it was all so much fun. Thank you, Harriet.

Name: Pamela Campe
Date: 05/10/10
Comments: My relationship with Harriet was sister-like in the best sense. We laughed together easily, shared stories of motherhood and family history. Harriet was a welcoming person with a generous spirit, so easy to be with. About 15 years ago soon after we met in Inverness a terrible forest fire burned Harriet and Joe's nearly completed home. Right after they found out their homes were gone Harriet and Joe and friends Bob and Marion put aside their sorrow and drove to our home to help us pack up and evacuate. Kindness, for sure. As Harriet's disease progressed she and I would take Monday picnics and hikes. Those times were special to us both. We would walk slowly, arm in arm, on the bluff at Millerton Point along Tomales Bay, enjoy the sun on our backs, check out the Osprey nest and feel the crunch of Eucalyptus nuts beneath our feet. Harriet would stop anywhere and say, "look at that tree, it's just so beautiful!" She enjoyed meeting the dog walkers along the way and always stopped to pet their charges. Being in nature was salve for her soul and a driving force in her work life. But most of all, she loved her family and adored Joe.

Name: Tim Richardson
Date: 05/08/10
Comments: Polls say that many people today despise Washington, DC? Harriet loved it. It was her 'briar patch' and it was my great privilege to be her helper for her last five years. A 'Harriet trip' followed an invariable pattern. She gained energy through the day. The challenges and speed bumps excited her. We'd have four or five meetings before noon. A nice lunch (with one glass of wine "we can't take all this too seriously" HB), and four or more meetings in the afternoon followed by a nice early dinner with two glasses of wine. She came from the era where people here had friends - and she'd call on them all in Congress, BLM, Interior, USDA, etc. She'd begin each meeting with a command of the facts and the presumption that ALC's project was exactly the outcome the American people and wildlife needed. Her intensity and respect for the political process was expressed the same whether she was meeting a cabinet secretary or a lowly Hill staffer for a freshman Member of Congress. She carried no grudges - a rarity in this town. Past disappointments were learning opportunities. Dinner conversation would vary widely but always included at least four topics, her family, with many stories past and present, Joe, her next exciting travel destination, and whatever new project area ALC should explore. There are people who stay with you and continue to inspire you when they are gone and Harriet is such a person to me and to many.

Name: Al Jahns
Date: 05/07/10
Comments: The experience of assisting Harriet in reaching some of her boldest land conservation objectives was for me the professional analogue of an E-ticket ride at Disneyland as a kid. What a thrill! Her appetite for worthy, but deliciously complex, transactions was never sated. And, whether the “deal” table was located in a fancy corporate board room, a legislative back room, or a cabin in a remote, wild place, she was relentless in pursuing her objective while bringing keen insights, grace, pragmatism and fun to the process. I feel privileged for having encountered Harriet. I delighted in helping her to conserve land. I wish her many loved ones comfort from the heartfelt memories of Harriet that we are sharing.

Name: Linda Hunt
Date: 05/07/10
Comments: Mom was anything but your typical mother. A master organizer and juggler, she was always working on a number of community projects. She volunteered for the Sierra Club and worked on various political campaigns all while taking on the full time job of raising 5 kids. As one friend reminded me, the telephone cord in our kitchen drooped to the floor from mom always being on the phone taking care of business while she ran around doing of domestic chores and directing her herd. She didn't tolerate complaining about things but looked for solutions and ways to resolve problems and when asked gave sound and spirited advice. She was protective but not smothering. She let us make our own choices and held us accountable but was there when we really needed her. She didn't drive us everywhere but showed us how to get to the places we could walk to and later gave us the bus schedule. She gave us the tools to live independently then the freedom to do so.When us girls joined the girl scouts, she became the troop leader, learned to drive a bus and got her chauffeurs license so she could take us on a trip without having to charter bus. She knew how to stretch a dollar and not waste any of that hard earned cookie sales money. She took the troop camping, spelunking, on whitewater rafting trips, and taught us invaluable life skills. She taught us to appreciate the world around us and opened it up for us in many ways. She took us backpacking before there was good camping gear in sometimes inclement weather. She encouraged adventure and travel as way of exploring new places and meeting new people. She made me feel at home outdoors and unafraid to set off for new places no matter how distant or different the culture. She was an avid adventurer and traveler. She fit in and charmed people where ever she went. She made a profound impact on those she touched. We'll cherish the memories of the kind and loving person that she was and treasure the many wonderful natural places she worked so hard to preserve. One of her mantras was to always leave a place better than when you found it and this planet is certainly a better place for her having dwelled upon it. We are grateful to Joe, the love of her life, partner in helping her starting her own business and steadfast companion until the end. We love you mom, may your resonant laughter echo on through the grand canyon for eternity. Linda

Name: Butch Marita
Date: 05/07/10
Comments: Please extend to Joe and the family as well as Harriet's extended family my and Glenda's condolences. Harriet was and exceptional and unique person! When I try to recall just what about her was so striking what stands out is the dedication to conserve Natural Resources and the ability to seek out individuals that make things happen. One could go on and on - on the many things she did and the people she touched for it was a life that was full of love for people and the wild outdoors. Not many of us on this planet have the opportunity to meet a person with these characteristics. She truly was a gifted person that found people and "turned them loose" to meet a vage objective of buying land for protection and conservation. She will be missed by us all.

Name: Chris Jehle
Date: 05/06/10
Comments: Harriet was the greatest boss I ever had, or ever will have. She was also the finest mentor anyone could ask for. And, on a deeper level, I always felt she thought of Frank and me as personal friends, and that meant everything to me. I miss our lunches together (and how I learned at some point to always order a glass of chardonnay, so that she would feel she could indulge as well). I miss her coming in to my office and asking (re our bank balance), "Well, how bad is it?" I even miss all the times she spent every single penny available to us in our Wells Fargo Line of Credit. I miss her laughter. Chris Jehle (& Frank Siccone)

Name: Peter Jorris
Date: 05/06/10
Comments: When a couple national organizations and large conservancies told our small NIMBY group in the San Bernardino Mountains that our goal was impossible, we were advised to contact Harriet Burgess at ALC. That was 1993. Harriet took on our project to save a major segment of Deep Creek, a remarkable wild trout stream in Southern California threatened by development. It was a very difficult project that took three years, but was finally successful. At the LTA Rally in Pacific Grove in 1995, I made a side trip to Big Sur for the dedication of Limekiln Creek, where I heard encouraging accolades of Harriet's many accomplishments. A year later we had our own dedication for the successful Deep Creek purchase and went on to form the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust. Harriet's willingness to take on the Deep Creek project prevented appalling environmental damage, saved the day and led to renewed efforts to protect the local national forest. And it altered the direction of my life. I have been involved in conservation work ever since. Harriet's ability to look at major obstacles and not see roadblocks is a true inspiration. If you keep your eye on the goal, the obstacle becomes transparent. Thank you Harriet for a memorable experience, your enduring legacy of protected lands and for being an outstanding example for all of us who carry on with conservation work. I will always be grateful. Peter Jorris, San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust.

Name: Ralph Benson
Date: 05/05/10
Comments: I am struck by how many of us remembering Harriet use the phrase “force of nature.” That, she was. But what a wonderful force! And what a legacy! And what a teacher! Anyone who worked in conservation with Harriet learned in the presence of a master. She spent her formidable intelligence, vision, passion and energy on everything she took on. And her warmth! Her smile was radiant and her love of her kids and grandkids and Joe and friends ran deep. Harriet and I went to work at TPL within a few months of each other in the late 70’s and worked closely together through the 80’s. Some things people should know: Harriet was a major architect of the brilliant Conservationist’s Alternative Budget which kept funding alive for land conservation nationally though the era of James Watt and the Reagan Administration. It was Harriet’s vision and tenacity more than anything else that saved Hope Valley near Lake Tahoe. Similarly, she is as responsible as anyone for the fact that the magnificent Columbia River Gorge is protected. She joined with local activist Nancy Russell and lined up the support of Senator Mark Hatfield; and the three of them made it happen. The list of lands that would not have been protected but for Harriet is very long indeed. Hers was a rich life, well lived. She is an under-appreciated giant in land conservation, and she was one hell of a wonderful person. I picture her smile and sparkling eyes and see her dashing through an airport. -Ralph Benson

Name: Sue Geisler
Date: 05/05/10
Comments: I can't recall when I first met Harriet It was a long time ago. Over the years, she entrusted me with hopes and dreams and the love we shared for her two daughters here in the Bay Area. I remember calls where we laughed until we almost cried and telephone calls where we shared tears because we couldn't solve the "impossibles". She cared so much for her work and for Joe and her children. She once said that her greatest heritage was leaving thoughtful children behind that would not forget their relationship with each other and nature and live strong lives always remembering her work and, more than that, her dedication to doing the right thing at the right time. She always did that. And they do that.

Name: John Hunt
Date: 05/05/10
Comments: Mom was a little like John Muir, always eager to explore wild places, except she did it with five kids in tow. Mom would take us on backpacking trips into the mountains with just a tarp and string for a tent and the smallest camp stove I have ever seen. We would carry our cloths and sleeping bags and she, everything else. Dad once described Mom as an "elemental force of nature." She had the courage to champion what other people saw as lost causes and the will power to see them through to completion. Her motivating philosophy was simple -- make the world a better place. This was evident in the way she lived her life from the grand, preserving thousands of acres, to the simple, showing kindness to a stranger, or making sure the campsite you left was cleaner than when you got there. She believed if something was worth doing, it was worth doing properly, and the only way to do something properly was to put everything you had into getting it done. My family is comforted by the knowledge that she led a full life. Mom lived deliberately with passion for all that she did, understanding every day is special and every tomorrow an uncertain gift. She traveled through life with uncommon grace and dignity that never wavered, even during her illness. Thank you ALC for putting together this nice tribute. Thank you Joe for the love, kindness and patience, and for taking such great care of mom the past few years. I know it wasn't easy. We love you Mom, John

Name: Quincy Robe
Date: 05/04/10
Comments: Harriet and I were first cousins, our mothers being sisters. As children were did not live near to one another and would see each other only once a year or perhaps once every other year. We had a difference in age which counted for more as children. Both of our mother died at far too young an age. Harriet's mother, younger than mine, died first. In 1968 Charlotte and I moved to Northern Virginia where Harriet and her family lived. We were now within a few miles of each other. During the six years we lived in Virginia I became well acquainted with Harriet. She was an amazing person. I have never met anyone more willing to take on difficult projects and often many at the same time. I would marvel at how she could keep up the pace. She taught me much about the environment and the love of the wild areas. She was ready for a hike summer or winter. I remember one particular overnight winter Sierra Club hike in the Virginia mountains through about two feet of snow and no snow shoes. (and my legs are longer). Largely as a result of her influence I have remained active, in a small way, in the task of land protection and preservation. Charlotte's and my thoughts and love go out to her family, friends and associates for our collective loss. We will miss her.

Name: Ame Hellman
Date: 05/03/10
Comments: Harriet hired me in my very first conservation job--in 1996, to be a project manager at ALC. I was a young attorney and had no experience in land conservation but Harriet told me the truest words that I've ever heard about the tedious process of land deals. She said: "You have young children right?" Yes. "Well, you pack them their lunches and send them off to school with their homework, right?" Yes. "There you go--you will have no trouble working with the BLM!" Sage words indeed as we slogged through the next five years of the Nevada Land Exchange I, then II and more. The highlight of my career at ALC ending with the acquisition of the Whittel Estate on Lake Tahoe.Harriet was tenacious. She was inspirational. She believed in true possibility and never backed away from a challenge. This world is better for her being here. I know that I am a better person for knowing her. We will miss you Harriet! My thoughts and prayers are with Joe and her wonderful family at this very sad time. Ame Hellman, World Wildlife Fund

Name: Russell Austin
Date: 05/03/10
Comments: My work with Harriet began in the early 1980s as a new lawyer in Lew Reid’s firm when we were involved with some of Harriet’s TPL projects. In 1993 or so, Harriet again reached out to Lew and me for help on her mounting inventory of ALC projects. From then until her retirement in 2005, I had the unique privilege of working with Harriet and the ALC staff on well over 100 ALC projects. What an amazing journey! From the challenges of the Nevada Land Exchange through the complexities of the Hearst Ranch Conservation Easement, Harriet never waivered in her relentless dedication and commitment to tackling the toughest projects. With affection and with respect, I came to describe that commitment and that dedication as Harriet’s “blow torch mode.” And with her usual good grace and humor, Harriet let me get away with that. Harriet’s legacy surrounds us in the landscapes that she preserved through her work at TPL and at ALC. She will be deeply missed, both by those of us who were privileged to know her and work with her, and by generations to come who are the ultimate beneficiaries of that legacy.

Name: Bill Garrett
Date: 04/30/10
Comments: Harriet always seemed happy despite the fact that she had masses of work to do. And the "happiness" was always good for lobbying and fund raising for conservation when not too many people were interested in saving land for future generations. Her happiness brought very high level people to help her conservation work. Working for Harriet was always a pleasure. Terrible sad that Harriet is gone but we will always remember her, Bill

Name: Martin Litton
Date: 04/30/10
Comments: Harriet. One in a million. No, better make that one in a billion, for you could search the Earth over and not find another Harriet. Mother of three daughters and two sons--solid citizens all--she came west, gave strength and direction to the Trust for Public Land as its vice president, married her landlord, and brought us passage to a better world with creation of her now our -- American Land Conservancy. Mrs. Joe Burgess leaves a vacancy but not a void. Her life's vision--her (and our) ALC -- needs our devotion and our presence, as before. Harriet, you brightened our lives, and still do.

Name: U.S. Sen. Paul Laxalt (Ret.)
Date: 04/29/10
Comments: I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Harriet Burgess. She was a special lady whose tireless and selfless work will benefit Americans for generations to come. No matter how complex or difficult a particular project might have been, Harriet approached each and every one with boundless energy, enthusiasm and optimism -- and an unrivaled tenacity. Of course, she worked extensively in my home state of Nevada. Whether it was the Carson Range, Carson Valley, Mount Rose or Peavine Mountain, Harrietdid some wonderful work in areas near and dear to the Laxalt family. Yes, some of her activities generated controversy and opposition. Yet, Harriet always maintained the traits she possessed in rare abundance -- kindness and decency -- even in the most difficult of circumstances. I'd venture to say that these attributes made her even more effective. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Harriet's family and friends. Although this is a sad time, upon reflection they will realize that they were blessed to have been a part of her wonderful life.

Name: Rand Wentworth
Date: 04/29/10
Comments: Harriet Burgess was a force of nature. She brought passion and tenacity to saving land, and knew how to get things done. She was a pro at working the halls of Congress and had a magical touch in getting funding to purchase endangered places. There are hundreds of beautiful parks around this country that are protected today because of Harriet’s skill and determination. After a distinguished career with the Trust for Public Land, she continued her conservation leadership as founder of the American Land Conservancy. Her legacy will be known by the children and families who, although they may not know her name, will be renewed by the lands that Harriet protected. Rand Wentworth, President, Land Trust Alliance

Name: Kristi Berryessa
Date: 04/28/10
Comments: Harriet was a cousin to my son-in-law Steve Robe, but coincidentally saved our familiy's favorite place in the Eastern Sierras in California, Bridgeport Valley. Thank you Harriet!

Name: Leslie King Cowan - Daughter
Date: 04/28/10
Comments: Here is a quote from Harriet about why she started the American Land Conservancy: Fall of 1990: Across the land are special places which everyone concedes should be saved, yet few make the attempt when chance of failure is great. The obstacles most often cited? The project lacks local support, is too costly, is politically infeasible, or lack of public funding; or an impending deadline leaves too little time to organize a campaign. Despite the admirable work accomplished by other conservation groups, for me there was a growing need for a nonprofit land-acquiring organization willing to tackle the formidable, some might say impossible, projects. The desire to start such an organization was compelling. And so, with the optioning of Topanga Canyon in April of 1990, the American Land Conservancy was born. Our small enterprise, now begun, will take the risks, and dare the "impossible."

Name: Lauren Ward
Date: 04/28/10
Comments: In the 1980's, while she was at TPL, Harriet put a bill through Congress to buy a duck club I owned and add it to a national wildlife refuge. I was so impressed I started sending her notes about wetlands I thought worth saving, saying "you should do something about this". Finally she wrote back "if you think this is such a great idea, come help me". We worked together over twenty years on projects from the West to the Mississippi River. Virtually all were difficult, complex, challenging, significant projects -- the kind Harriet wanted to do. In all that time a sharp word was never spoken between us. Harriet's capacity for risk taking could be unnerving. Using an airplane analogy, I would warn her "if you always fly at the edge of the envelope, eventually you'll crash the plane". Didn't matter, she still did it. She bet the whole organization on her last project, the Hearst Ranch, and succeeded. We were unanimously voted down by the Klamath County Board of Supervisors once because they didn't like the USFWS to whom we proposed to convey land. We walked out of the meeting and Harriet said "let's go to BLM'. Today that project, the Wood River Ranch, is a stunning 3,500 acre waterfowl refuge which the community joined with BLM to restore to native marsh. If it couldn't be done one way, Harriet found another. She once held a fund raiser in Elko, Nevada, and got contributions from the local brothel. And it didn't matter if it "made sense", Harriet did things because "it was the right thing to do". She bought John Muir's gravesite in Martinez because neither the Sierra Club nor the Park Service would. It took 3 or 4 years but she finally got the Park Service to accept it. When my son went to work for ALC, Harriet dragged out every cat and dog deal she had and assigned them to him. She did the same with Kerry O'Toole. It was great for them although it was the equivalent of being thrown into the deep end of the pool and learning to swim. To Harriet's credit, eventually the deals got done. The real estate aspects of Harriet's work were very complex, something not many appreciated. The Nevada land exchange, for which Harriet and ALC paid such a price, involved $65 million of properties and 26 simultaneous closings in counties all over Nevada. Completed in 6 months, it was the largest Federal land exchange ever done. Few people or organizations can match Harriet's accomplishments. Ducks Unlimited, which was founded in the 1930's, is justifiably proud it has raised over $1 billion for wetlands conservation. I can think of over $300 million of projects Harriet was responsible for at ALC and if her projects at TPL are added, her life's work probably exceeds half a billion dollars and hundreds of thousands of acres of land. You can fly over America and see her work -- in the Appalachians, the Mississippi River, the Nevada desert, the Sierra Nevadas, the Central Valley, the Pacific coast, the Klamath Basin, the Columbia River Gorge, the Kodiak Archipelago, and many other places. Generations of Americans will benefit from Harriet's campaign, as she put it, to "save the remants".

Name: Sonia Jacques
Date: 04/28/10
Comments: As a young and new employee of the Trust for Public Land in the early 1980's, I was in awe of Harriet. She seemed on the one hand, so down to earth and approachable, and yet her already remarkable conservation achievements in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon and on Sweeney Ridge, in San Mateo County, California ... imbued her with an inspiring aura. She later became my first mentor in the "art of the conservation deal" and I will always be grateful to her for taking the time to share her expertise with me. Harriet was never afraid to use her feminine wiles and flutter those big cornflower blue eyes. I sometimes watched in amazement as crusty business men and obstinate bureaucrats alike would melt in her presence and obstacles to preserving that special part of our natural heritage would miraculously disappear. I send you and your family my blessings. With metta, Sonia.

Name: Scott Parker
Date: 04/28/10
Comments: It was practically my first day in San Francisco, and my first day at The Trust for Public Land - over 22 years ago - when I met Harriet, or "H2". I'll not forget the blaze of red hair, the deep and real laugh, the piercing expression as she calculated the next best move to save the next great parcel of land. Although I didn't recognize it then, I recognize it now, as I continue my career at TPL: Harriet taught me to take the chance, to listen to my instinct, to view the whole of the picture but to revel in the oft-overlooked detail. As with so many at TPL, Harriet helped shape me and that, in turn, has helped protect the land and communities, coast to coast, that we all hold close to our hearts. I'm saddened to learn of her passing, grateful to have known her, thankful for what she brought to the world.

Name: Robert Glenn Ketchum
Date: 04/28/10
Comments: When Harriet recruited me to sit on her founding Board of Councillors, I replied that I did not have money to give so perhaps I was the wrong choice. She said she wanted my media advice, my passion and my pictures and that would be enough, so I said yes. Then, without missing a beat, she said can you take some pictures of this place I might be able to rescue in Big Sur, called Limekiln Creek. At that moment an interesting circle in my life was completed. In my college years, I had what the hippies described as a "cosmic flash" while camping in Limekiln, and by my experience there determined to dedicate my photography to purposeful conservation issues. I spent many subsequent camping trips there teaching myself how to move from my experimental darkroom photography style to my new embrace of depicting the landscape. Limekiln was a difficult subject, but a great teacher. I told Harriet that I already had some old pictures if she wanted them. She did, and she had me print 6 of them immediately so that she could take them to a meeting with a possible funding source that would help with the purchase and protection of the Limekiln property. I got them to her, she took them and showed. The fund source gave her some seed money on the condition that they could keep the prints. Then, some months later, the purchase was completed and ALC transferred Limekiln into the California State Park system. It is hard to move more quickly than that, and Harriet was a master of timing and finesse. She always saw the "bigger" picture and knew how to put the players together to make things happen. I will miss you, my love! God, look at that GREAT smile!

Name: Bennett Johnston
Date: 04/28/10
Comments: I worked for Harriet for seven years and know what an amazing force of nature she was! The passion and intelligence that moved through her was put to great purpose. I will always be grateful for her work, and for the chance she gave to me to learn from her. She taught me how to engage selflessness and self in work: the idea of working, or living, without giving it everything you have was completely foreign to her. A remarkable spirit that lives in her accomplishments, and in the deep passion she engaged in so many of us.

Name: Teresa Hager
Date: 04/27/10
Comments: I worked at The Trust for Public Land from 1984 to 1989 and I was Harriet's Administrative Assistant for part of that time. She was one of the most dedicated, driven conservationists I've ever known. The minute she whirled past my desk every morning the energy level on the whole floor increased 100-fold! She was a strong and dynamic woman and showed just as much dedication and commitment to her family as she did to land conservation. She lives on in all the wild and wonderful places she helped to save in her lifetime. Thank you, Harriet.

Name: Dave Clerici
Date: 04/27/10
Comments: People who are able to bring passion (I mean real passion, not the advertising catch-phrase du jour) to their life work are folks I truly admire. They are typically the risk-takers, the problem solvers -- the ones who make a difference. Harriet's legacy surely reflects these qualities. I only wish I could have known her better.

Name: Jerry Meral
Date: 04/26/10
Comments:Harriet was one of my conservation heros. She, Audrey Rust, and Esther Feldman stand out as the best women working in the area of land conservation. Harriet had national reach and vision, and was always willing to take a chance to expand the acreage of protected land. She started a terrific organization, and did great things with it. We will miss her leadership. Jerry Meral

Name: Jim Elias, ALC COO
Date: 04/26/10
Comments: Having joined ALC after Harriet retired, I usually witnessed her work from the perspective of someone employed by partner organizations. I was in awe of her accomplishments. Still, despite Harriet’s many projects closed and acres protected, I will most remember her for a car ride we shared between Bridgeport, CA and Reno, NV. During this hour-and-a-half, Harriet seamlessly wove stories of personal, family and professional life, and asked about me, and my kids. For someone who was a practical idealist, I was struck by how thoughtfully reflective she was. Of course, though, Harriet became most excited when she described work still to be done, land still to be saved.

Name: Bob Flewelling, TPL
Date: 04/26/10
Comments: I worked with/for Harriet on many acquisitions in the late 80s and early 90s in the Sierra around Castle Peak and Grouse Lakes, and at Kings Beach on Lake Tahoe, and in Hope Valley and elsewhere in Alpine and Mono counties...I learned a tremendous amount from the experience; and she was undeniably a dynamo, an inspiration, a visionary - I never go to the Hope Valley area (one of my most favorite California places) without thinking of her and the fact that without her the area would without a doubt be a very different and far lesser place. The same is true, from what I've heard, of the Columbia River Gorge and several other spectacular landscapes (e.g., Ruby Mtns.) which I've never had the pleasure of seeing. She was one of those people of whom one can say, without any hyperbole whatsoever, that she made a truly lasting and positive difference in and on the world.

Name: Jean Hocker
Date: 04/26/10
Comments: Harriet was the consummate, results-driven conservationist. Her laser focus and tireless persistence brought protection to thousands of acres of open places and wild areas that others might have deemed too difficult to tackle She was also a good friend. She leaves a stunning legacy for the future and we owe her immense gratitude. Our thanks go also to ALC for carrying on that legacy. -Jean Hocker, President Emeritus Land Trust Alliance

Name: US Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
Date: 04/26/10
Comments: On many occasions, Harriet said, "The land we save is our legacy. It's what we give our children". Harriet's dedication and success in preserving that land is her legacy and is an example for future generations to follow. Many of us in Congress know of her leadership, are grateful for her victories, and are saddened by her passing.

Name: Leslie King
Date: 04/24/10
Comments: My mother taught me so many things, how to cook, clean a house to perfection, sew, camp, backpack, and too many other things to list here, but the most important lesson was the love of nature and wild places, and if you couldn't get there, sometimes the very best day you could have could be in your own backyard if you just looked for it. I loved backpacking with Mom, who would cut off the end of the toothbrush if she thought it would lighten our packs. The Grand Canyon was her favorite place on earth and after going down the river with our own boats and were able to bring along friends on the guided tour, I agreed! Harriet gave me the opportunity to work for her 20 years ago at ALC and I will stay on as long as I can to carry on the good work she started and we still have a lot to do. Up until she passed she would talk to me about how many things we need to finish, this was her passion. She might be remembered for her environmental work, but she was also an artist in the kitchen, garden, and creative projects around the home. She could build a house and proved that more than once. She was a Martha Stewart before we ever heard about Martha! She is truly missed by my whole family. Love you Mom, Leslie

Name: Alan Front
Date: 04/24/10
Comments: As a newbie at TPL a quarter-century ago, it was my great good fortune to have Harriet as my first land conservation teacher and mentor. The things I learned from her example -- from her indefatigable commitment, her passion for special places, her unique ability to dream the impossible and then magically to make it happen -- are continual sources of strength and inspiration for me, as I know they are for all of us who were lucky enough to know her. Harriet was a dynamo, a force of nature, a unique and powerful spirit, and I am grateful for the deep ways she touched my life. My thoughts and care are with Harriet's family and her ALC colleagues. And in ways I understand and ways I probably won't, my ongoing participation in the conservation movement will always have more than a little Harriet in it.

Name: Steve Hearst
Date: 04/23/10
Comments: Harriet was indeed a very special lady. She often stepped into what some thought controversial land preserving transactions that others were afraid to handle. She looked at the big picture and walked through fire in order to do the right thing. I worked with Harriet on and off for four years and never had a bad day while in her company. She was tough in her positions and held the line on protecting the interests of conservationists but realized that property owners were indeed the other half of any conservation solution. She will be missed by us all. Steve

Name: Maddy Pope
Date: 04/23/10
Comments: I worked for Harriet years ago. She was a terrific boss. She led by example and was extremely generous in sharing her knowledge and never-say-die spirit with her staff. She always wanted to really know the people she worked with and cared about how I was and what was going on in my life. She was completely engaged as a mentor and a friend. I will miss her spirit. -Maddy

Name: Julia Walsh
Date: 04/23/10
Comments: Harriet was a wonderful mother and all she did nurtured her family and friends and the greater community. Mom, you are so missed. We will all try and live up to your legacy.

Name: Kerry O'Toole, ALC President
Date: 04/22/10
Comments: Harriet was an amazing woman to work for -- a passionate and tireless advocate for conservation who would rarely take “no” for an answer. She had the unique ability to get the impossible done and she was driven by completely unselfish reasons. Harriet dedicated her life to conservation not for personal glory nor for the glory of ALC, but because she believed, with every bone in her body, in the cause to protect our nation’s land and water resources. I am honored that I had the chance to learn from Harriet and even more honored that I now have the opportunity to carry on her legacy at American Land Conservancy. I am thankful to Harriet for all that she has done for me, but more importantly for what she did for the public good and the earth’s irreplaceable resources that have no voice.