People and Happenings
People and Happenings
The Future is Green:
Arranging a Bequest for Ecological Assessment at Mount Auburn
PHOTO BY jennifer johnston
Stephen Fitzsimmons in his Cambridge, MA home.
Stephen Fitzsimmons, Ph. D., of Cambridge, wanted to make a gift to Mount Auburn that would make a difference in a major area of operations, in particular helping the Cemetery take a proactive approach toward ecological issues and in so doing encouraging others to do the same. As a result, he is making a gift from his estate to create the Mount Auburn Ecological Challenge Fund for Scientific and Strategic Management.
The Fund will produce annual distributions in perpetuity to support periodic assessments of Mount Auburn’ s natural habitats, studying water, soil, plants, animals, birds and insects— as well as ad hoc topics of special interest at any point, such as the local impact of global warming, drought, blights, and more. Dr. Fitzsimmons was very careful and thorough in outlining his wishes, while giving the Cemetery broad discretion as to how it can spend the income from the Fund.
Steve’ s first interest in things ecological was inspired decades ago by reading the Rachel Carson classic Silent Spring and the writings of biologist Barry Commoner. A 1958 graduate of Northwestern University, he also earned a master’ s degree in psychology at Washington State University and a doctorate in social and industrial psychology at the University of Houston. He went on to a career in public policy research with Abt Associates, Inc., of Cambridge, studying a broad range of issues, including analyzing domestic and international government programs and activities regarding their rationale, goals, operations, accomplishments, and renewal. He is the author of numerous papers and articles.
In arranging his bequest to Mount Auburn, Dr. Fitzsimmons summed up his wishes by saying he wanted to give the Cemetery“ the rules and tools” for meeting environmental challenges in the future.“ My own interests as a scientist include ecology and the development of a holistic approach to ecological preservation and development,” says Dr. Fitzsimmons.“ I invite others to join me in helping the Cemetery. That’ s why I call this a‘ challenge fund.’”
For further information or to make a gift, please contact: Priscilla P. Morris, Vice President of Development, Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, 617-607-1919; pmorris @ mountauburn. org.
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