Bob Jackson’s obituary appearing last week said simply that: “he was active in land conservation projects on Martha’s Vineyard.” This is a classic understatement if ever there was one.

The 200-acre open space now operated by the Farm Institute and known to us “old timers” as Katama Farm might surely have succumbed to development without Bob’s intervention nearly 40 years ago. True, it took the combined efforts of town and commonwealth officials, several Island conservation groups and strong support from neighbors to deed that land to conservation in perpetuity. But it was Bob who made that happen.

There’s more. As a trustee and long-serving member of the executive committee of the Vineyard Open Land Foundation, Bob worked quietly and behind the scenes to make a long-term success of VOLF, which now accounts for over 2,000 acres of open space or meaningful land use restrictions, reaching into every corner of the Island.

Bob Jackson was also a founder of the Katama Homeowners Association, which he served for several years as president.

Bill Connolly
Edgartown