Shirley Heinze Land
Trust announced that it has received a generous bequest from the estate of
Dune Acres resident J. Richard Brannan.
Brannan died on
October 8, 2014, at the age of seventy-eight. A native of Monmouth,
Illinois, he received undergraduate and law degrees from Northwestern
University. Rather than pursue a legal career, he became an antique dealer.
His specialties were English furniture, porcelain, and silver. Brannan
enjoyed gardening, literature, classical music, travel, and cooking. He
loved to visit the gardens in England and Scotland.
“The Indiana Dunes
were very important to Richard,” said Timothy Ritchie, Brannan’s partner for
more than fifty years. “He loved to take walks in the area and learn about
the local environment. We both were impressed by the work Shirley Heinze is
doing to preserve these treasures. Richard felt that the best way to support
land conservation in this area was to remember the Heinze Trust in his
estate plan.”
“Shirley Heinze
Land Trust is honored to receive Richard Brannan’s bequest,” said Executive
Director Kris Krouse. “We are touched by his generosity, and we accept the
gift as a challenge and an opportunity to redouble our efforts to save the
special natural areas in Northwest Indiana that he loved. The kindness of
people like Richard Brannan will make it possible for generations far into
the future to enjoy the beauty of nature in our area. His legacy will live
on. We are very grateful.”
For more
information about the Shirley Heinze Land Trust visit
www.heinzetrust.org
Â