The Preserve Observer Friends of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve Magazine Vol
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The Preserve Observer Friends of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve Magazine Vol. XXXVII Spring 2017 Snows May Come Again But Cherish the Photo: Herbert Hadad Land We Have As Did The Rockefellers Photo: Herbert Hadad An oil painting by Boston artist Roberto By Benjamin H. Cheever David Rockefeller in his living room Grande for an earlier Peony Festival We haul our memories on our backs, Family and 9th Annual and so jettison the lead bars, forget ‘Friends’ Peony Festival the dull dinner party companions, Remember Is Set for we even drop the gold. We keep what is light and precious. Puppy David Rockefeller Thursday, breath, a kiss, the clasp of a lover’s With Respect, May 11, 2017 hand. Inflation feeds steroids to nos- Boundless At the Preserve talgia. “You could buy a Hershey bar Gratitude Entrance for a nickel,” we like to say, forget- ting that you could toil all day dig- and Love By Herbert Hadad ging ditches for a nickel.” The past By Clare M. Pierson is also more dramatic. We didn’t call On Thursday, May 11, from 6 to 9 and Evelyn Hadad it snowmagedden, but there was p.m., the Friends of the Rockefeller more snow when I was a boy. And Clare and Evelyn are, respectively, the State Park Preserve will host one of President and Vice President of Friends more land for it to fall on. the highlight events of the preserve of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve. spring season. It is the Ninth Annual I miss the snows of yesteryear. Now On the first day of Spring we had Peony Festival – a fund-raising event I like to remember that I knew even the news that a giant left us, here in that will celebrate the blooming at then that a giant was about to die. I our hamlet of Pocantico. Everyone the entrance to the preserve of the like to think that I saw the portents lives someplace, even those people famous Japanese tree peonies. in the gaps between the trees. It who have an outsized effect on the continued on page 11 continued on page 10 continued on page 3 Page 2 Friends of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve Magazine Vol. XXXVII Spring 2017 Recollections – DR Letter From NYS Parks Chief By Ann Rockefeller Roberts (The following are excerpts from Commissioner Rose DR needs assistance now getting into the carriage Harvey’s letter) his enthusiasm is undeterred He insists that I sit next to him in front On behalf of the staff of the New York State Office of Parks, his driver rides standing behind ready to assist Recreation and Historic Preservation, I extend our deepest DR wears leather gloves, a straw hat with black band sympathy to the family and close friends of Mr. David Rockefeller on this sad occasion. then we are off he expects to leave promptly I do hope you find some solace in knowing that his legacy both he and his pair of Morgans will live on in so many special places across the state and restless to be out on the trails nation, particularly his beloved Rockefeller State Park nudging each other bobbing their heads Preserve. Our visitors acknowledge and greatly appreci- Let’s get going!! ate the generosity of the Rockefeller family in the creation of the Preserve. Because of the family’s remarkable vision, DR starts them out at a walk visitors follow historic carriage trails along the Preserve’s Then using the tip of his whip and his voice Guides them into a trot wonderful untouched landscape, through preserve lands, an even steady pace for the open road onto Mr. Rockefeller’s lands and back into State lands and His attention clear, his gaze focused ahead not even know it! And, David was the personification of the family within the preserve. Seeing “Mister” drive by in He came lately to carriage driving, after Peggy’s death his stately carriage was an evocative link to a by-gone era. Building a beautiful carriage road in her honor "Peggy’s Way" We are grateful for his intention to donate another 500 acres winding through the woods above the lake of land to the park, preserving even more of this wondrous land for generations to come. Perhaps his greatest gift in now he takes great pleasure inviting friends, family his example. His generosity is a reminder to us all of our to go out with him, shared responsibility to care for our environment and our Joining larger carriage events with public lands. elaborate picnics in an English manner on a hilltop with a beautiful view The Hudson River or the Mountains in Maine These rides are different every time- Remembering The Rides Scents of woodlands or ocean breezes Infinite choices, in Maine or in Westchester Friends Board Treasurer Carol Lyden, whose mother was he decides where we are to go and for how long Happy Rockefeller, said, “David and I shared our love of carriage driving through the Preserve that he deeply We meet walkers, bikers, riders, other carriage drivers cherished. His extraordinary generosity towards the DR is courteous - greeting them, allowing children to Preserve gave much pleasure to so many. And we will come close, take photos and then moving on always remember with joy and gratitude what special The return is as orderly as the departure attention he gave to the Preserve. the attendants assist him and me out of the carriage relieving the horses of their harness "In one of our recent conversations David asked me if I washing them down, rubbing them dry had been out carriage driving and told me how much he before walking them back into their stalls wanted to go. What a spirit he had! DR always invites me to come home with him for lunch "I will hold close to my heart a lifetime of memories and a nap, with him. if not, to come again as soon as possible "My husband John and I will miss him greatly.” It is bittersweet to part from each other where will we meet the next time? Friends of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve Magazine Vol. XXXVII Spring 2017 Page 3 David Rockefeller, continued from page 1 world, and this is where David Rockefeller spent most of enjoyed driving together. On occasion we stopped to have the later years of his life. picnics by a stream. I will cherish the memories.” “To the several local family members, he was mostly Uncle George Gumina is a Rockefeller cousin by marriage to David. We are a collection of nieces and nephews, grand Rachel, a granddaughter of Nelson A. Rockefeller. George, a nieces and nephews, maybe a daughter included. Or a kindly horse lover to the core, grew close to Peggy and David, and neighbor. Even if the official relationship was cousin, Uncle admired their love and stewardship of the land. It led George was what we called him and he answered to,” Clare Pierson, to establish the Friends group in Peggy’s memory and serve David Rockefeller’s grand niece, said. as the first president. “Uncle David was a loving and caring man, not only to his family but to From Lucy Waletzky, daughter humanity. When we were together, of David’s late brother Laurance: he always wanted to know how “Uncle David was a very generous were things on the preserve and the donor to the Rockefeller State Park roads,” George said. Preserve and took great pride in the number of people visiting it. In DR, as he was also known, was a addition, he was a warm and loving captain of banking, a builder of uncle who we will greatly miss for the Manhattan skyline, a friend countless reasons.” and confidante to kings and prime ministers across the globe and a “He loved the idea that family would major collector of fine art and the continue to live here in the place sole surviving patriarch of his his grandfather, the architect of the DR loved carriage riding in every season. family. Yet he also enjoyed services fortune, and his father, path maker at the Union Church of Pocantico Hills, where he met Evelyn in philanthropy, had carved out of the hills overlooking the Hadad and her family. Hudson River. He was generous to us, quietly supportive, as he was generous to the State of New York,” Clare said. “He was charming and approachable,” she said, “so one Sunday I suggested he come to our home for dinner with our And David loved this land, this place. He with his carriages family. He accepted. and his beautiful horses were a treasured sight on the carriage roads of Pocantico, the roads of our preserve. Best to step out “Sipping his martini he admired a Persian rug and a Chinese of the way when he came barreling along—a carriage is not a brass incense burner. We moved to the dining room and car, and while there are brakes, these are also horses and they took our seats. The last person to arrive at the table was our have an outsize momentum, along with their driver. daughter Sara Jameela, the chef for the night. It was then that we witnessed his impeccable manners. David stood, came David Rockefeller, who passed away at age 101, grew up around the table and pulled the chair back for her. It was at his father’s feet. John D Rockefeller Jr. loved his horses lovely to watch and unforgettable.” and his carriages, and he and his father set out the plans for the carriage road system here in the preserve, and Jr.