Honouring a Life Lived Wild and Well: In Memory of Betsy Buck Duncan
Honouring a Life Lived Wild and Well: In Memory of Betsy Buck Duncan
WRITTEN BY VÉRONIQUE MCGRATH, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
With heavy hearts, we honour the life and legacy of Elizabeth “Betsy” Buck Duncan—fierce environmental advocate, loyal friend, and the remarkable woman behind the Clark Gregory Nature Preserve on Deer Island.
Betsy passed away on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the age of 96. But to those who knew her—or simply walked the trails she helped protect—her spirit remains as present as the spring serviceberries (wild pears) she loved to watch bloom each year by Chocolate Cove.
Betsy was, quite simply, a force of nature.
She was bold and unflinching, whether debating friends over a beer, calling elected officials to advocate for her strongly-held beliefs, defending democracy and fighting corruption (even suing a state governor in a voting rights case she won in the U.S. Supreme Court), or writing impassioned letters urging us to wake up and care for the Earth—our only home.
Her love for the natural world ran deep, rooted in early memories of riding her horse “Blackout” through the wilds of Florida and swimming with manatees. That love never faded.
In 1999, alongside her partner Clark Gregory, Betsy protected 60 acres of Deer Island shoreline, establishing with the Nature Trust what would become the Clark Gregory Nature Preserve. But this was never just about a land donation. For Betsy, it was about life—plant, animal, human—and the unspoken bonds between them.
Even in her nineties, she walked those trails. She sat on the bench at Chocolate Cove, soaking in the white blossoms of spring and remembering Clark. She shared stories, connected with the local community, and dreamed up ways to protect more of what she cherished.
She never stopped learning—often sharing articles and her thoughts on the topics therein with friends and family. Her friend and fellow long-term Nature Trust volunteer, Water Emrich, recalled the last such article she’d sent him was about rockweed—its role in the food chain, and her concern for its future.
“I feel very fortunate that I was able have Betsy as a friend,” Walter told us.
Betsy’s legacy is one of protection, persistence, and profound care. It’s a reminder that the land we love needs us—and that, together, we have the power to protect it forever.
All of us at the Nature Trust of New Brunswick extend our deepest condolences to those who knew and loved Betsy. We are honoured to be part of the legacy she helped shape.
In her memory, may we walk a little slower through the woods, ask bolder questions, care more deeply, and never forget that—yes—we do have the power.
If you feel moved to do so, Betsy asked that donations be made to your favourite environmental organization in her honour.