SUMMER 2020 PARKSIDE HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY NEWSLETTER stories from hermann park stories from 1, 3 Stories from Hermann Park 2 Letter from the President 4 Hats in the Park 5 Gardens in full bloom 6 What your membership means 7 Kite Festival George Hermann Society “[It was] August 24, 2015, and the first day of school. We couldn’t wait to enjoy an extra day out in the Park! We couldn’t wait to visit the new McGovern Centennial Gardens. We walked all the way to the top and the views were spectacular, and the sitting area and the engraved messages were memorable! [When she turns 15] we would love to have a birthday party at the Gardens to celebrate my daughter’s quinceañera!” — Silvia Mayeli Urteaga Over the past few months, Hermann Park Although we lost him to Covid-19 in May, has been a place for people to come Keith also knew better than anybody Gardens in Full Bloom Page 5 together and enjoy the outdoors. This is that the community’s support of the exactly what Hermann Park has always Conservancy was vital to our success. done for Houston, for over a hundred years. That support has helped the Conservancy Hermann Park matters to Houston and create a vibrant urban park in the heart Houstonians. No one knew that more than of Houston. MISSION Keith Wade. A longtime board member If you have had a chance to visit the Park Hermann Park and early supporter of Hermann Park recently, there’s no doubt you’ve seen Conservancy, Keith knew the importance the appreciation of Park users right now. Conservancy is a of the Conservancy’s efforts to make the There have been countless emails, citizens’ organization Park what it is today. personal anecdotes, phone calls, and dedicated to the “It’s a real commitment to make sure that social media tags from people just stewardship and everybody in this city has an opportunity thankful for Hermann Park’s existence. improvement of to come and enjoy [Hermann Park]. We These are just a few of those stories. Hermann Park— have families who can’t go to a ballgame And, with your help, we will continue to today and for anymore, they’re priced out,” he said. create a place for these stories to happen. generations to “Here, they can come in and stake out a From McWilliams Dog Park to the Commons space, just enjoy different activities that to the return of public art in the Park, our come. they may not have been exposed to.” current campaign is creating an even brighter future for Hermann Park. See more at hermannpark.org/masterplan. Continued on page 3 hermannpark.org PARKSIDE / SUMMER 2020 DONORS letter from the president letter from The Commons at Hermann Park Like many people across the city, I could I saw him $50,000–$1,000,000 not believe it when I learned that Keith deal with Kirby Corporation Phillips 66 Wade, one of Houston’s best citizens, had many difficult Stephanie and Frank Tsuru died from complications of Covid-19. challenges $25,000–$49,999 He was one of those rare individuals over the years, Kaitlyn and Michael Scheurich Jessica and Josh Solera who woke up every single day trying to in numerous Y. Ping Sun and David Leebron make the world a better place … and situations Allison and Troy Thacker $10,000–$24,999 on most days he succeeded, in both where people Robin and Richard Brooks Jordan Kozar big and small ways. It’s hard to imagine were locked in Doreen Stoller and Keith Wade $5,000–$9,999 Houston without him, working behind conflict, but he Kathy and Glen Gondo the scenes to bring people together never let any of that beat him down. Linda and Barry Hunsaker Rebecca Mark-Jusbasche and for the greater good. I never heard him raise his voice or get Michael Jusbasche combative or force his views on others. Sara and Craig Stone Keith helped so many people and Peter Tsan Instead, I witnessed many times when organizations across the city, and any $1,000–$4,999 one of them could write a story like this. he was able to listen well and gradually Melina and John Bishop bring people around to his position Gloria and Jesse Bounds My story is about the role he played at Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell and Derrick Mitchell the Hermann Park Conservancy, where so that everyone felt they had won in Steve Dolman the end. And no matter how difficult Cyndy Garza-Roberts and Thomas Roberts he served on the Board of Directors Yasuhiko and Akemi Saitoh (including a term as chairman) for many the problems we were trying to solve Barbara and Louis Sklar together, we always ended our phone Heidi and Marcus Smith years. When we asked him just a few Phoebe and Bobby Tudor years ago what motivated him to put calls or meetings in laughter. $500–$999 Anonymous – In memory of so much time and energy into the In a day when many leaders demand Matthew J. Frantz Conservancy, he shared his reasons and attention and try to speak louder than Kristen and David Buck Anne and John Clutterbuck that conversation has never left me. others, Keith embodied the nobility of Michele and Brent Friedman “This park has played an instrumental true servant leadership. You rarely saw $100–$499 Isabel and Danny David role in a lot of ways people wouldn’t him in front of the camera, but he had Viviana and David Denechaud normally think about,” he said. a huge network of people who trusted Marley Lott Erin and Adrian Patterson “When I was growing up, Houston was him and valued his perspective. He also Mary L. and Brian N. Rollins a segregated society. I drank out of had a gift for bringing those people Anne Schlumberger Doreen Stoller and Dan Piette colored water fountains and went to together— from the City, the County, faith Keith W. Wade colored restrooms. But the one thing I groups, nonprofit organizations, churches, In Kind Abbi and Robert Antablin was able to do, was come to Hermann and community associations—to get things done. And he was the last one to McWilliams Dog Park Park and play with kids of all shades, $1,000–$4,999 colors, backgrounds, religions, and we claim—or even accept—credit for it. Alex and Duncan Dickerson Barbara Lister and Dan McCormick – just played together. We all were on Today I took a walk around Hermann In memory of Breezy the rocket slide together. We all fed Park just to think about Keith and thank Karen and Ken Redding Sally and Mark Sooby the ducks. We watched other people him silently for all that he did for us and $500–$999 feed them. We all watched them try to gave to us. It occurred to me that he Taylor Brooks and Dan Kaufman Sara Kelly get clean in a muddy pool of water that embodied a lot of what parks are here to Claudia and Richard Toomey – In honor of thank goodness we fixed. This park gave do for our city, especially now because Bonnie and Clyde Toomey John J. Toomey – In memory of people an opportunity to be in the same our community needs them so much. Michelene Toomey space in this great city and learn how Like our parks, Keith brought us together. $100–$499 to get along.” He helped cultivate peace. He looked for Rigby Stinson-Carroll the opportunity to create common joy. Historic Clubhouse – Lott Hall The fact that the Park was a unifying $1,000–$4,999 place when he was a child made him And, in his words, he gave people an Paul F. Egner III opportunity to be in the same space in Doreen Stoller and Dan Piette – want to be involved as an adult—to In memory of Erin Gregory Neale and make sure that it continued to serve this great city and learn how to get along. Lamar Gregory Neale $100–$499 that purpose. But that wasn’t enough Rest in power, Keith Wade. We miss you Doris and Larry Bernard – for him because Keith wanted our and we are better people because we In honor of Tommy Lott entire community to be united at every knew you. Public Art Fund $50,000–$99,999 level. The little boy who grew up in a Cece and Mack Fowler segregated city rose above the injustice $25,000–$49,999 he experienced in his youth to be a Gary Mercer relentless voice of reason, compassion Doreen Stoller, President and insight. 2 DONORS HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY Japanese Garden $1,000–$4,999 Stories from Hermann Park continued Marlene and Mark Wong McGovern Centennial Gardens $100–$499 Susan and Robert Hawkins In Kind Houston Powder Coaters Shahrzad Yekta Urban Green $500–$999 Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Plant a Tree $500–$999 Anne and Timothy Sturm – In memory of Bartholomew Busker and Ling Huang $100–$499 Anonymous – In memory of Lynda Sue Hibdon Maryam and Aamir Chandio – In honor of our 5th Anniversary “I love where I live. After work, I hopped Susan and Charles Cooper, Donna Cooper, on a bike and took a spin around one of Dana Cooper and Shelly Campbell – In memory of Anna Russell Houston’s most beautiful parks and bayous: Ann Kennedy and Geoffrey Walker – Hermann Park. I love that we are close to In memory of Olivia Simmons outdoor spaces, museums, great food, Bobby Nix – In memory of Donnie R. Nix and so many other things that are now Turtle Creek Lane – In memory of Patricia “Sissy” Krause “I discovered Hermann Park forty years ago.