Founder Mark S. Thomas, M.D. Retires

In 1989, as a young medical resident, Mark Thomas began exploring the woods along Rancocas Creek in his new home of Pemberton Borough. One day, he heard a wood thrush sing and was enchanted. Thus was born the dream of preserving this beautiful place, threatened as it was at the time by development. Two years later, the dream came true, the woods now called Beechwoods Preserve, and Rancocas Conservancy incorporated as a nonprofit land trust founded by Mark and his co-founder Barbara Rich.

For more than 35 years now, Mark has been a champion of preservation in the Rancocas Watershed and of the organization he began, which now has 12 preserves throughout Burlington County, and is a generous donor himself. Most recently having served as vice president of the Board of Trustees, Mark will now continue as a volunteer and trustee emeritus.

Thank you, Mark, from the Trustees, members, donors, and lovers of the Rancocas and its watershed.