Last fall, New Jersey’s conservation community lost a giant — Ted Koven, longtime New Jersey Audubon board member and staunch advocate for wildlife and natural lands. It was with great sadness that we learned of Ted’s passing last October at the age of 83.
Ted was both a dedicated civic leader and fervent ambassador for the natural world he so cherished as a youth, and which he grew more focused on preserving throughout his life. He was inextricably tied to land and community, residing with his family for more than half a century at their Mountainville farm in Tewksbury Township. Ted devoted years of public service to his town, as chair of its environmental commission and board of health, planning board and township committee member, and as a two-term mayor. He also understood a deeper meaning of “community” — that possessing a sense of place means living in harmony with nature. This he modeled and promoted in his usual soft-spoken yet compelling way.
A tireless champion of open space preservation in Tewksbury and beyond, Ted has left an extraordinary impact on the Garden State and its natural heritage. As a member of New Jersey Audubon’s family for more than 25 years — serving all aspects of our mission, from bookstore volunteer to board member; land steward to development committee chair, Life Member to Ambassador — Ted’s contribution was tremendous. His generosity and leadership also extended to other not-for-profit organizations, including the Raritan Headwaters Association, the Tewksbury Land Trust and the Newark Museum.
In his spare time, Ted was an avid birder, who attended many of our donor trips and excursions, and participated year after year on our World Series of Birding board team. He was also a hunter, beekeeper, gardener and, of course, a devoted family man. As New Jersey Audubon President and CEO Eric Stiles recalls, “Ted was always quick to light up a room with his friendly presence and joy of life. He quietly went about doing remarkable things in an understated manner. I will never forget his smile, quiet humor, and love for his family and the land.”
Ted was a remarkable man whose legacy endures in the preserved lands and flourishing wildlife that continues to define our Garden State. He is missed.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.