Late last summer, Leelanau Conservancy staffer Gayle Egeler received a very sad phone call, but one that ultimately left her and her fellow co-workers inspired. Longtime Conservancy member Bridget Lamont had called to say that her nearly 21-year-old son, Jeff, lay dying after battling cancer for the last six years. Bridget and her husband, Tom, wanted to donate to the Conservancy’s Leelanau Preservers program so that a tile in Jeff’s name could be mounted in the Conservancy’s Village Green. It was Bridget’s hope that Jeff would live to see his 21st birthday, and she also wanted to show him a photograph of the tile that would be mounted in his name. “His mother wanted to be sure he knew that a piece of Leelanau would be saved forever in his name,” says Gayle.

Gayle quickly had a picture of a tile taken, printed it, and sent it off by Priority mail. Jeff, who loved Leelanau County, did live to see his 21st birthday, and the tile photo, but died three weeks later.

Bridget Lamont had told Gayle that Jeff loved Lake Michigan, and was a wildlife enthusiast who had a passion for walking in the woods. A few weeks later, Conservancy land protection specialist Tom Nelson received a call from Jeff’s uncle, Jeff Later. He explained that as the family began processing his nephew’s death, they had conceived of an idea to celebrate Jeff’s life beyond a Leelanau Preservers tile. They wanted to buy a 40-acre woodland near the family cottage on Christmas Cove that Jeff had enjoyed walking on. Their idea was to then donate the land to the Conservancy and preserve it forever in Jeff’s honor.

As it turns out, the land, owned then by Sam and Debbie Middleton of Northport, has all the qualities that Jeff loved and that the Conservancy looks for when prioritizing land projects: excellent wildlife habitat and a wide variety of trees, flora and terrain. The land features scenic stands of old maple, beech and hemlock, delightfully dense wetlands replete with cattails over six feet high, and verdant meadows where dozens of does and their fawns come to bed nightly.

The family, with the Conservancy’s help, approached the Middletons with their idea. The land had been in Sam Middleton’s family for 80 years or more, and they own and live on the 120 acres adjacent to the new preserve. A deal was struck, and fundraising began for the $140,000 piece of property.

“People said we would never raise that kind of money,” says Jeff Later. He and his family wrote 500 letters and sent them out. “The donations starting flowing in,” he says. “What a shock it was to see so many gifts from so many people, and some who never knew Jeff.” Others who knew Jeff picked up the fundraising ball and ran with it, including one of his friends who launched his own 500-letter appeal.

By year end, over 400 gifts had been given in Jeff’s name, and nearly three quarters of the funds needed had been raised. The Leelanau Conservancy made up the difference from donations received at year end to its Land Acquisition Fund, and on Friday, January 18, purchased the 40-acre property. The dream of a Jeff Lamont Preserve became a reality.

One of the project donations came from Al and Sue Manson of Springfield Illinois, close friend of the Lamont family who also own a summer home near the Later/Lamont cottage. “We watched Jeff grow up and at fifteen, commence a brave six-year fight against cancer,” says Al Manson. “He was a brave, brilliant and remarkable young man. Leelanau County was his light and refuge in the darkest days. Jeff’s family and friends are truly, truly grateful for the Conservancy’s efforts.”

Plans for the Preserve call for a sign, small parking lot and a simple trail system. The Preserve will be closed during hunting season, an agreement critical to the former owners. Sam Middleton says he had some concerns over public access, because he hunts on his own land that is adjacent to the preserve. “Tom Nelson was real nice to work with,” he says. “He showed concern for what I wanted. It was a positive experience. I’m glad the land will stay as it is; a wildlife refuge and a place for deer to over winter.”

“This project has flourished and has been one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever been involved in,” says Jeff Later. “Unfortunately, it all centers on Jeff’s death but helps deal with his loss.”

“The story of Jeff Lamont and his family is pretty incredible,” says Brian Price, executive director of the Leelanau Conservancy. “The preserve that will honor Jeff’s memory is a reflection of his and his family’s deep love for Leelanau County and the natural world. It is this sort of emotional response that has fueled the work of the Leelanau Conservancy for nearly 20 years now. We’re amazed and inspired by what has been accomplished by this family, and by what can happen when people care about this beautiful peninsula.”

DIRCTIONS TO THE PRESERVE

A short trail is in the works. Please note this area is closed during hunting season. Take M-201 North out of Northport. Bear RIGHT as M-201 becomes County Rd 640 and turns East. Take County Rd 640 for approx. 0.3 mi.PLEASE USE CAUTION to go LEFT onto N. Kilcherman Rd (As a landmark, there is an antique farm windmill on N. Kilcherman Rd., about 100 yards North of the intersection). Take N. Kilcherman Rd approx. 0.9 mi, then the road will bend SHARPLY to the LEFT and become Christmas Cove Rd.Take Christmas Cove Rd approx. 0.6 mi., staying straight/right as you pass Scott Rd on your left. The Jeff Lamont Preserve is approx. 0.15 mi downhill past Scott Rd on your right.