After 27 years, Prue Berry is retiring from UURC&CC to focus on her increasingly busy profession of landscape design.
Prue first came to Rowe in 1977 for Sarah Benson and Molly Scott’s first Rowe workshop on Music and Healing. In 1980 she moved to Rowe to join Doug Wilson in his work, becoming the host, office manager, fundraiser, housekeeper, groundskeeper, and assistant maintenance person.
In 1981, when Unitarian Rowe Camp officially became Unitarian Universalist Rowe Camp and Conference Center, Inc., she and Doug accepted the title of Executive Directors. Gradually the staff grew and the tireless labors of many began the slow and steady climb from a pretty funky place into what many believe is the finest small conference center in the country.
Prue was the mother of two teenage daughters, Kimberly and Virginia Gabert. Kim boarded at the nearby Northfield Mt. Hermon School and Virginia lived with her father for a year in Darien, CT. Then she moved to Rowe to attend the brand new Academy at Charlemont, a relief for Prue, who loves her daughters immensely.
She also loves Rowe’s guests and her unique ability to love is what set Rowe apart from other camps and conference centers. As good as our programs and our food are, Prue’s natural, innate ability to love is a central part of what made Rowe what it is.
Summers, Prue and Doug directed Liberation Camp for a while, Junior High Camp for many years, then Senior High for a good many more years. Her love shone on campers and staff, who returned that love and enriched the hearts of Prue and Doug forever.
In Connecticut Prue had been a professional singer and guitar teacher, and she shared these gifts as she sang and marched in countless events to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons. She was honored to be chosen as the US representative to the Mothers for Peace Convention in Birmingham, England.
Many of the staff became life-long friends who gathered in 1983 to join many other friends in pronouncing Doug and Prue husband and wife in the Rowe Chapel.
Prue became involved in the town and was elected to three consecutive five-year terms on the planning board. Using her charm, graciousness, and diplomatic skills, she did a lot to repair unhappy feelings between the townspeople and the camp.
In 1986 Prue and Doug took a sabbatical and built a home in town three miles north of the camp. Prue wanted to have a home and Doug wanted to build one but, as often happens, they both came to love both aspects. On various weekends they open their home to conference center guests and over the years have probably hosted two or three thousand people. One special highlight was Paul Winter playing at Prue’s 60th birthday party.
As the Center became more complex and professional, Felicity Pickett was hired to manage the finances. When Felicity became administrative director, Prue became the fundraiser and host, and in 1994, Prue began to study the art of Landscape Design at Harvard’s famous Radcliffe Seminars Landscape Design Program. Upon her graduation in 2001, she created Sacred Space Design, which was officially called Prue Berry Landscape Design.
Rowe honored Prue by naming her Director Emerita as she moved to part time work so she could develop her business. This was put on hold by another sabbatical in 2002-03 when Prue and Doug moved to Italy for eight months. They visited dozens of gardens and cathedrals all over Europe, enhancing their professional lives in the manner sabbaticals offer. It was a lovely time, with many fascinating encounters and more peace marches, this time to stop the American invasion of Iraq.
Upon their return, Prue began developing her business in earnest. She goes to people’s homes and talks about how they can make their gardens more vibrant and full of spirit. Sometimes she consults for a few hours about how to enhance the beauty she sees; sometimes she draws up elegant, imaginative site designs with plant and tree lists, the whole nine yards.
Now she’s choosing to deepen her concentration on the art of opening the connections between people and the living earth. Prue’s sense of the sacred has been enhanced by her long association with Rowe C&CC. With family and friends to steady the keel, she has sailed through rough and tranquil times with grace and an open heart. Rowe will deeply miss her, but when Alice and Margaret stopped being our chefs, we learned that once something wonderful has been established, it’s easier to sustain it.
Formally, New Years’ Eve is her final day of work. Come join this family friendly celebration as we ring out the old and ring in the new, whatever it may be.
Prue can never fully leave this beautiful place. She will grace us with her presence when she’s inspired, perhaps to attend an event or lend a helping hand, hugging, singing, connecting with old and new friends, walking the exquisite land, and communing with her long time buddy and companion, the Rowe Spirit.
We all thank you, Prue.
Blessings be upon you.
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