Wanda Broadie Alexander - In Memoriam

Wanda Broadie Alexander

Wanda Broadie Alexander began life in a small town in the great open spaces of Midwestern Kansas. Born of parents who had escaped farm life by means of college and career, she enjoyed yearly family camping adventures to the various National Parks (relatively new in those days) and felt the excitement of seeing her first bear. Her real and abiding passion for nature and all its creatures came later with a trip to the Galapagos after a series of personal losses of husband and parents culminated by the tragic and untimely death of her sister in an airplane crash in the early 70’s. The Galapagos experience brought an in-depth knowledge and appreciation for our shared life processes and the transforming nature of life and death. This led her to became actively engaged in environmental issues.

When she inherited 80 acres of unbroken prairie in the flint hills of Kansas, she donated it to Bethel College in Kansas where students learn to understand prairie ecosystems. The Broadie Habitat Preserve in Montana, which helps to preserve one of North America’s smallest, most vulnerable grizzly bear populations, is another result of her generosity and support. After purchasing 2.5 acres of hillside land on a dead-end road in Los Gatos, CA, Wanda wanted to be sure that the wildlife corridor on her property would be preserved, which led her to obtain a conservation easement on her land through the Wildlife Land Trust.

Wanda was the CEO of ACT for Mental Health, a small mental health agency in downtown San Jose. She fostered this agency for many years with the mission of providing quality mental health care to folks who otherwise would not be able to afford it. She received a Jefferson Award in 2013 for her decades of leadership in offering mental health services. Throughout her professional life as therapist and mental health clinician, she sought to find ways to help clients and patients connect with nature as part of healing. She spent many holidays on eco travel, which spanned every continent, including the Antarctic. She was an avid photographer, capturing gorgeous images of animals, plants, people and landscapes. 

Wanda was a frequent volunteer for our Chapter, and especially enjoyed helping with book and poster sales. She generously left her property to CNPS for an Environmental Education Center. 

Brenda Butner - In Memoriam

Brenda Butner

May 5, 1939 – October 1, 1995

Brenda Butner was a key figure in the history of the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. She began her horticultural work at Foothill College, where she, botanist and author Tony Corelli, and Mary Kay of Western Horticulture Society were students together. Brenda developed a major interest in native plants and was our Chapter President from 1989 to 1991.

Brenda was always interested in new developments in the native plant field. Whenever there was a field trip, large or small, she would be on it. An avid student, stimulating speaker, and very well organized, Brenda then became the Field Trip Chair; her tenure is recalled by others as one of the best field trip seasons ever. She also worked at Yerba Buena Nursery under Bart O’Brien where all became close friends. Brenda developed the student program at Yerba Buena Nursery.

Brenda’s involvement at Edgewood Park brought her in contact with politics. She was instrumental in helping to defeat the golf course project and saving the park from development. She also developed the Docent Program at Edgewood Park which continues to this day.

Whenever she traveled, botany and native plants were her prime motivating interests, whether it was in Australia, Himalaya, or Costa Rica.

After her death, the Brenda Butner Memorial Lecture was endowed by her husband, Al Butner, who continued to be a chapter member and native plant enthusiast until his passing in 2013. The endowment makes it possible for the chapter members to hear speakers of great accomplishment in the fields of California native plant horticulture, science, and conservation.

Remembering Brenda

By Jean Struthers (Blazing Star, Nov-Dec 1995)

Brenda was the first CNPS member I met. I volunteered to sell books and posters and took over that job from her. She assured me that it wasn’t too difficult, but what she did not tell me was that it would lead to total commitment to CNPS. Brenda's commitment was very contagious and inspiring.

From that small involvement and from my eagerness to grow native plants came the opportunity to work at Yerba Buena Nursery with Brenda. There she was instructive and patient with my learning. She even taught me to say “no” sometimes. She knew her own limits and how to manage her time. Together we chaired the Wildflower Show to a great financial and floristic success, largely due to Brenda's organizational ability.

Brenda became Chapter President and drew many new people to the Board. She followed that position with Field Trip Chair. I will always remember our first trip to the desert and how well it was organized. She keyed many plants that were new to the group, helped with the camping and photography efforts, and above all, ensured the enjoyment of every participant. She was particularly good about finding and making available information about our destinations. Brenda instituted the informal Friday plant walks in local parks and open space lands.

Brenda joined me on a Los Altos Hills town committee for Environmental Protection. She wrote guidelines for using native plants in town landscaping, and wrote the town's first Heritage Tree Protection Ordinance. … We planted a valley oak (Quercus lobata) for Arbor Day, and buckeye seeds on road edges.

Brenda was a docent at both the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve and Edgewood Park Preserve. She worked three days a week at Yerba Buena Nursery. She became particularly skilled at propagation techniques, and was responsible for the manzanita cuttings. She started the Chapter's Gardening With Natives group, a very successful gathering which met once a month.

When Brenda got cancer she did not stop her numerous activities unless her treatments really disabled her. She still put in time at Yerba Buena Nursery, attended meetings, and took as many field trips as she had strength for. She organized the botanists for our 1995 Wildflower Show and spent hours helping identify our specimens.

Brenda was so very considerate of all the people around her. She kept us all informed and enthusiastic, and always thanked all the people who helped her. Did we ever thank her enough? I really miss her.

Alfred Butner

August 8, 1937 - November 27, 2013

Alfred was a general surgeon with El Camino Hospital, Stanford Hospital, and the VA Hospital until he retired in 2012. Al was a long-time chapter member and supported all of Brenda’s CNPS activities. Al was chapter Publicity Chair, a Going Native Garden Tour garden owner, and joined many chapter field trips and activities. He donated a used surgical table from El Camino Hospital to the chapter nursery, which was still in use over 20 years later. After Brenda’s passing, Al funded the Brenda Butner Memorial Fund in her memory.

Donald Mayall - In Memoriam

Our dear friend Don Mayall passed away on June 28, 2017 at the age of 85. Don was a Chapter leader, friend, and mentor to many of us. Don quickly became a leader in our Chapter after becoming a CNPS member in the 1980s, and held many positions in the Santa Clara Valley Chapter over the years, including President and Rare Plant Chair. He was also active at the state level and was honored as a CNPS Fellow in 2011. Along with his wife, Carolyn Curtis, he participated in the campaign to make Edgewood Park a natural preserve, and went on to advocate successfully for preservation status for Coyote Ridge in San Jose, another rare plant hotspot.

Those of us in CNPS who worked with Don over the years know that a mere list of his activities doesn’t capture the whole story – he inspired and encouraged all of us to advocate fearlessly for the protection of native plants. We will miss him greatly!

You may visit this memorial website that was assembled by Don’s family. It includes many wonderful photos and memories of Don. You are invited to post your memories there.