Richard Moe passed away on September 15th at the age of 88. The New York Times obituary is extensive in covering Dick’s legacy of public service, first in politics as chief of staff for Vice President Walter Mondale and then as the longest-serving president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

I only knew Dick by reputation during the first half of his career but we worked closely together over his term as National Trust President, especially after he recruited me to join the organization in 1996. The following year I came to Washington where I first served as Dick’s chief of staff and then as Executive Vice President.

The obituary and tributes from others fill in Dick’s many accomplishments in the preservation field. I’ll briefly mention only two.

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The first day I came to work as chief of staff we had a meeting to discuss the future of President Lincoln’s Cottage, which is located on the grounds of the Soldier’s Home in Washington. The summer refuge of Abraham Lincoln—he moved his family into the Gothic Revival home and commuted to the White House during the Civil War—it was also the place where the Emancipation Proclamation was conceived in the president’s mind. Dick’s long-time dream was for the public to experience the place where Lincoln went to work, think, and reflect away from the constant demands made of him at the White House.

Because of complicated ownership issues it was a difficult project to bring to fruition, but over ten years, with many individuals playing key roles and with $17 million raised, the Trust made it happen. Lincoln’s Cottage would not have been saved, restored, and open to the public without Dick’s deep commitment and his belief in using the cottage not simply as a museum, but as a home for brave ideas.

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The other landmark that was saved in large measure because of Dick’s leadership and perseverance is the Edith Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois. As I wrote in my 2024 review of a new book on the conception, building, and preservation of the house:

“The public’s understanding of preservation is often limited to the restoration process, but that doesn’t happen without financial support. Put simply, the Edith Farnsworth House would not have been saved and opened to the public without the untiring work of former Landmarks Illinois President David Bahlman, former Sara Lee Corporation CEO and renowned fundraiser and philanthropist John Bryan, and former National Trust President and CEO Richard Moe. It is a small quibble with an otherwise terrific new work, but I would have preferred to see more recognition given to their roles in pulling every string possible to quickly raise the millions of dollars required to bring the site into the public realm. David, John, and Dick’s fundraising efforts—married with smart, strategic choices during the auction—were ultimately successful and made the preservation work of the past twenty years possible.”

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These are just two examples out of dozens, both big and small. But I want to share more personal remembrances at this time of his passing.

The Dick Moe I saw on a daily basis for 14 years had a generous and expansive spirit. He was under many different pressures but he always made the time to listen and to thank others. I’ll never forget the fact that Dick called me in 1993 right after the Disney fight ended to thank the Preservation Alliance of Virginia—where I was the Executive Director—although our contribution was small in comparison to the work of others. Remembering how Dick’s call made our organization feel appreciated and recognized, I followed his example several times in my career to reach out personally to a variety of partners and collaborators after major battles and victories. One of Dick’s favorite lines was that we “stand on the shoulders of giants.” It is a lesson in generosity in the sharing of credit that I learned from Dick Moe.

That generosity extended to me professionally and to our family personally in a number of ways. Dick would open doors and make opportunities available when he saw potential in an individual, a group, or a project. Turning over the organization’s first-ever capital campaign for me to run was life changing in how I envisioned my capabilities. More importantly, the everyday leadership lessons he exhibited—depend on others, build partnerships, think deeply about options, just show up—helped me and so many others in the field grow and succeed in our work.

As others are remembering Richard Moe for his life and legacy of public service, I want to offer this personal note on the occasion of Dick’s passing in thanksgiving for all the support and guidance he gave to me. I will always treasure our work together.

Rest in peace, my friend.

More to come . . .

DJB

Photo of Acoma Sky City, an affiliate site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, by Claire Holsey Brown. Dick loved the American West and worked hard to tell a more complete and accurate American story. Acoma Sky City is just one example of that work.