A Day with Lyndelle Fairlie: Legacy in Action
Words by Julie Ball, Advancement Officer
From a snowy walk in R Park to stories shared over lunch, Lyndelle shows how planned giving helps protect the Tetons for generations.
On a cold, sunny day in February, I spent the day with Lyndelle Fairlie. We walked through the snow and over bridges in R Park, then paused along the Snake River levee, where swans bobbed in the frigid water as we waited for the Grand Teton to emerge from the clouds. We tested gear for her next trip to Antarctica, enjoyed lunch at Nora’s, and stopped by REI for a quick gear run — finding exactly what she needed on the sale rack.
But the most memorable part of the day for me, as a new Jackson Hole Land Trust staff member, was hearing Lyndelle proudly share — again and again — that she is a Jackson Hole Land Trust Legacy Society member, and what that commitment means to her. She told the young woman walking her dog in R Park, the lively women from Wilson at the table next to us at lunch, our waiter Nick, and even the REI checkout associate.
Lyndelle is a retired political science professor from San Diego, California. She readily admits that while she’s in the valley, she doesn’t drive in the snow and prefers to dress in plenty of layers. As she explained to the “Wilson Four” (as we affectionately named the ladies at lunch), Lyndelle doesn’t have a home here. Instead, she began a 70-year love affair with the Tetons as a young child on summer family trips from Chicago to Grand Teton National Park. Lyndelle has traveled the world — Europe, Asia, Alaska, and Antarctica (twice!) — and she always measures the mountains she sees against the Tetons.
“There is nothing like the impressiveness of the Teton Range.”
Years ago, Lyndelle was reading an article from another organization that mentioned the Jackson Hole Land Trust’s long-standing dedication to protecting the Teton viewshed. A light bulb went off: It’s no coincidence these panoramic views still exist. Because the range is what draws her here — and sustains her between visits — she decided this important work should also be her legacy. Lyndelle’s passion will live on through her planned gift to the Jackson Hole Land Trust.
Lyndelle also spoke passionately about her hope that her legacy gift will help the Jackson Hole Land Trust uphold conservation easements. Conservation easements last in perpetuity, but as these protected properties change hands more frequently, diligent stewardship becomes even more essential. Planned gifts like Lyndelle’s are directed to the Jackson Hole Land Trust’s Forever Fund — ensuring the organizational capacity to safeguard the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for generations to come.
Thank you, Lyndelle, for your passion, your wisdom, and for being such an important part of this work. The Jackson Hole Land Trust is fortunate to have you as a remarkable ambassador. Are you ready to name the Jackson Hole Land Trust in your estate plans? Click here for helpful resources.
Is the Jackson Hole Land Trust already in your estate plans? Please let us know so we can thank you for your incredible act of generosity.
Contact me at julie@jhlandtrust.org or (307) 733-4707.
Photo: Kim Fadiman