Port Isobel

In December, the Chesapeake Bay lost a friend, trustee, and one-of-a-kind supporter of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation—G.R. “Randy” Klinefelter of Ephrata, Pa.

In 1988, Klinefelter made an unusual gift to CBF: a 250-acre island and indoing so, he and his family established CBF’s largest residential education center, Port Isobel, and opened up a treasured and historic piece of the Chesapeake to thousands of students, teachers, and citizens.

Named after his wife, Isobel, the former family getaway is a stone’s throw away from its sister island Tangier, home to one of the Chesapeake’s last remaining watermen’s communities.

Over the past 20 years, students, teachers, and decision makers have traveled by boat to Port Isobel to explore the island’s marshes, beach, and woodlands.

The Klinefelter family owned the property for 30 years before donating it to CBF, and during that time instituted soil conservation measures and other environmental improvements.

The Klinefelters recognized the connection between their home state in the northern watershed and the downstream Chesapeake Bay.

Mr. Klinefelter served on the CBF Board of Trustees from 1988 to 1999.

Memorial gifts in his honor will be accepted at: Randy Klinefelter Memorials, CBF, 6 Herndon Ave., Annapolis, MD 21403

1/25/2008