PCLT lost two great friends in April. Denis Castelli and Karen Correll both passed away, and will be sorely missed.
Denis was a PCLT trustee for many years, and was the driving force behind the fundraising for, gutting of, and renovation of the PCLT’s headquarters, the Dorrie O’Brien House. A constant figure in the community, Denis was the historian for the village of Brewster since 2006, and was the Putnam County Historian since 2011. He had served on the board of the Landmarks Preservation Society of Southeast and as a Brewster Library trustee. He was a Vietnam Veterans and Purple Heart recipient who was very active in veterans affairs, working for two years with Congresswoman Nan Hayworth. Denis leaves his loving wife Athena, a brother Michael and hundreds of friends whose hearts he has touched forever.
Karen Correll was a PCLT Life Member and a dedicated volunteer for many years. Karen began her volunteer work for the land trust as a trail volunteer bringing along her two sons. She then became a dedicated and devoted member of the PCLT dinner committee and worked tirelessly on getting donations. Karen was always finding ways to contribute both large and small – be it attacking the invasive barberry at the DOB House or arranging to have a donated oriental rug appraised and cleaned, and obtaining under padding prior installation. The family has been a donor to the Lindera Loop trail and to the Friends of the Trails program, and received the Leadership in Giving Award a few years ago. Karen was there whenever we needed something.