PRWC Mourns Loss of a Founder
Frederick Rickard “Dick” Leavenworth passed away October 9, 2018 at the age of 83. He was the son of the late Howard and Maude Shoppe Leavenworth and a lifelong resident of Woodbury. Dick was a graduate of Woodbury High School and went on to receive his Bachelor of Science from the University of Connecticut, Storrs. He was employed by Waterbury Buckle Company (ITW) for 38 years, where he was Sales and Product Manager.
A lifelong conservationist, he will be most remembered for his decades of volunteer leadership in the preservation of land and water quality in Northwest Connecticut. He was the founder and former Chair of the Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition, Vice President of the Northwest Conservation District, Founder and Chair of the Woodbury Conservation Committee, and a member of the King’s Mark Resource Conservation and Development Board. He was a dedicated volunteer for over 20 years at Flanders Nature Center, assisting in their acquisition of hundreds of acres of land dedicated for open space. He was recently recognized by Flanders with their naming of the Leavenworth Preserve, a 126 acre Woodbury property of walking and hiking trails.
Over the years Dick received numerous awards, including The Aquarion Environmental Champion Award, the Dr. Marc J. Taylor Environmental Stewardship Award, The Bernard Rosenberg Award, the Duncan M. Graham Award for Regional Leadership, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Connecticut Association of Inland Wetlands. Dick also served in the CT Prison Ministry Program and was an active member of St. Paul’s Church in Woodbury. He leaves his wife Barbara “Bonnie” Leavenworth, two daughters Sara Lynn Leavenworth of Middlebury and Wendy Leavenworth Halpert and her husband Michael of Watertown, and five grandsons: Hayden, Justin, Alexander, Samuel and Jacob. He is survived by his sister Phyllis Leavenworth and was predeceased by his brothers Chandler and Wesley Leavenworth.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Leavenworth Scholarship Fund at The Connecticut Community Foundation, The Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition, or Flanders Nature Center.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, October 25, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Munson Lovetere Funeral Home in Woodbury, followed by a Memorial Service on Thursday, November 1, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church in Woodbury. A burial will follow services at New North Cemetery in Woodbury.
Donations may be made to: The Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition 39 Sherman Hill Rd. Suite C-103, Woodbury CT 06798 Tel: 1-203-263-0076 Make an online donation here.
