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- Arboretum Home
- G. Douglass Cofrin Gateway
- Introduction
- Tribute to G. D. Cofrin
- Lenfestey Family Courtyard
- Arboretum Tower
A Tribute to G. Douglass Cofrin
Members
of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay community have lost a great friend
with the death of George Douglass Cofrin. Doug, as he was known, was instrumental
in establishing the Cofrin Arboretum along with his brothers and sisters
and uncle, Dr. David A. Cofrin, and his family. Their generosity led to
the development of trails, plantings, purchase of additional property,
and an endowment that continues to provide educational opportunities for
students and faculty at UW-Green Bay. At the time (1975), the donation
from Doug and his brothers and sisters was the largest donation ever given
to a University of Wisconsin institution outside of the Madison campus.
When their father died, the children wanted to honor him and their grandfather,
Austin E. Cofrin. In Douglass' words: "We wanted something outdoors,
not just some museum piece; something people would get fun out of…"
Today, the Cofrin Arboretum is one of Green Bay's most popular destinations
for hiking, biking, and nature appreciation, fulfilling Doug's hope and
continuing to provide a source of enjoyment and education for thousands
of people every year.
Doug Cofrin was the oldest of six children born to John Paige Cofrin and Barbara Hauxhurst Cofrin. Doug Cofrin’s father and grandfather were founders and CEO of Fort Howard Paper Company in Green Bay. Douglass grew up in Green Bay and eventually attended Cornell University, where he graduated with a degree in economics in 1965. He received a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1968 and later graduated from Career Academy in radio announcing. His pursuits included ownership of two radio stations, development of Milwaukee Magazine, world travels, and a candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 1980.
In July of 2000 he moved to Easter Island in the
South Pacific, which had been one of his favorite travel destinations.
He died on Easter Island of pneumonia on February 17, 2002. We have lost
an important figure in the history of UW-Green Bay, but the generosity
of Doug Cofrin and his family will always be remembered here.
Biodiversity Topics: Introduction . Plants . Animals . Mammals . Birds . Reptiles & Amphibians . Arthropods . Spiders . Insects
© 2001-2004 The Cofrin Center
for Biodiversity and the University of Wisconsin Green Bay,
All Rights Reserved
Last
updated on
January 12, 2006