We are saddened to share that Gail Bates, one of SELT’s earliest supporters, passed away on Friday, August 21 at the age of 103.
For SELT, Gail was remarkable for her probing questions, warm smile, independence, and deep engagement with the world. She made nearly every annual meeting, stayed abreast of our work, and was delighted in the success of SELT since the early days as the Rockingham Land Trust.
Long before the tool of a conservation easement was seasoned and well understood, Gail and her late husband Bob took a chance and placed one on their land in Kensington – the very first easement of the fledgling organization.
This seed sprouted into a connected corridor of hundreds of acres along Drinkwater Road, and help get the young organization on its feet. In 2017, in celebration of Gail’s 100th birthday, her niece Betsy had a beautiful sugar maple planted at our Burley Farms property in Epping. In keeping with Gail and Bob’s foresight, the sugar maple will bring joy and an appreciation of nature to all who visit.
Gail’s life of 103 years was punctuated by worldly engagement in adventure in nature and other cultures. To learn more about this remarkable woman, please read her obituary or this story from Rock and Ice.
We are deeply honored to have been named as an organization to receive gifts in Gail’s memory. To make such a gift, please use this form and check off “I would like to dedicate this donation.”
Pictured: Gail and Bob and the maple tree planted at Burley Farms to celebrate Gail’s 100th birthday.
