VIRGINIA THOMPSON TREWORGY

PLYMOUTH, Mass. – Virginia Thompson Treworgy, Philanthropist and Environmental Attorney native of Hoboken, N.J. and wife of Eric Treworgy from Milo, passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 25, 2005. Virginia was the daughter-in-law of Edwin and Ethelyn Treworgy of Milo and summered in Maine, in Milo and in Surry, where she and her husband planned to build on the family property. For the past 25 years Virginia Treworgy has devoted her time professionally and personally working on issues that are central to her core values – protection of the environment and bettering conditions for undeserved groups in our society. A native of New Jersey, Ms. Treworgy received her training in environmental science and geology at Yale University in 1978 and upon graduation worked for the U.S. Army Galveston Texas District. In 1983, she moved into the private sector to serve as lead environmental program manager for the Nuclear Waste Repository Test Facility and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve project. In 1985, she continued her education at Harvard University, attaining a master’s degree in government and public policy and later her Juris Doctor from New England School of Law. While pursuing her advanced degrees Ms. Treworgy managed key aspects of two of the largest public works projects undertaken in the past 20 years- the environmental reviews and permitting of the “Big Dig” in Boston and the Boston Harbor Navigation Improvement Project. Her belief in building cooperative partnerships with stakeholders became a model for using public advisory groups to cooperatively facilitate complex and controversial permitting. She was particularly proud that her model enabled the Boston Harbor project to proceed without objection or legal challenge, while respecting environmental policy. She trained government agencies and private groups in environmental management issues and was an expert in the National Environmental Policy Act. More recently, Ms. Treworgy maintained a private legal practice specializing in marine environmental issues and providing pro-bono services to local non-profits. Ms. Treworgy chaired the Treworgy Charitable Fund, which has provided major support to Massachusetts General Hospital, Lee Iacocca’s diabetes research initiative, WBUR, and over 25 other local, national and international funds. She has been an active supporter of the International Fund for Animal Welfare and provided resources and expertise for the North Atlantic Right Whale Project. She has also been an active supporter of the Manomet Bird Observatory, supporting habitat preservation in North and South America. Ms. Treworgy recently co-chaired with Lee Iacocca a record-breaking benefit dinner at the United Nations for STRIVE, a New York based non-profit that provides job and life skills training for the chronically unemployed. In 2004, Virginia’s commitment to the charitable sector passed the one million dollar mark and had become a full-time occupation for her in providing intellectual capital and ideas to these important initiatives. Virginia has lived in the Boston area for the past 20 years and in Plymouth since 1987. She is survived by her devoted husband, Eric; her sister, Ann Thompson; her sister and husband, Janet and Robert Keymetian; her brother and wife, Henry and Mary Thompson; her in-laws, Robert and Cheryl Treworgy of Lebanon, N.H., Jeanne and Brian Hamlin of Brownville; and her devoted friend, Derek Bartlett. In addition, she is survived by nine nieces and nephews, one grandnephew and three grandnieces. She is also survived by two very special young men who always kept her young at heart and smiling, Matthew Brouillette and Jared Hallisey. Visiting hours were held at her home in Plymouth, Mass. and at Failla Memorial Home in Hoboken, N.J. Funeral services were held on Dec. 5, at St. Anne’s Church in Hoboken, N.J. and interment was at the Holy Cross Cemetery Mausoleum in North Arlington, N.J. If you are interested in memorializing Virginia and honoring her causes, please visit the following websites www.IFAW.com, www.manomet.org, and www.strivenewyork.org.