Scenic Hudson Mourns Loss of Board Member Phyllis Atwater

Phyllis Atwater

Some people who enjoy Scenic Hudson parks and other work we do to protect the valley’s wondrous landscapes may not have heard of Phyllis Atwater, who passed away on Dec. 13. But all who treasure the valley owe her a debt of thanks -- as Scenic Hudson surely does -- for her quiet generosity and intelligence.

As a Scenic Hudson board member, Phyllis Atwater shared her business savvy and keen understanding of how to connect communities, particularly urban ones, with land preservation and environmental issues as well as a joy of nature. We at Scenic Hudson mourn her passing and express heartfelt condolences to her husband John and other family members.

In her professional life, she spent 10 years in New York City government helping create business opportunities for women and minorities. Prior to that she worked on state environmental programs in Massachusetts and New York.

A native of Memphis, Tenn., and a graduate of Vassar College, she once described her affection for this region. Her words explain why it meant so much for her to impart this passion to others.

“It was love at first sight, driving the thruway of the Mid-Hudson Valley one hot, dry August day in 1964. Miles and miles of deciduous trees showing off in the yellow, orange, red, purple hues of late summer. And then suddenly, the Hudson River in cooling, calming greens and blues and aqua. A far cry from the sparseness along the muddy Mississippi, soon abandoned for life among historic villages, town squares of American legend, facades standing for over a century, and so many olden spires of peace.”