Remembering Joey Pope

Portland’s parks and natural areas lost a great friend and advocate when Josephine (Joey) Pope passed away on October 2.  Among many other things, Joey chaired the initiative that created the Portland Parks & Recreation 2020 Plan and she served as the first chair of the Portland Parks Foundation. 

Joey was a true champion of Portland’s parks and natural areas, but it was a gathering at Gay’s dining room table that was significant for Leach Garden.

Leach Botanical Garden had been “Portland’s Secret Garden” for many years, but by 2009, the Leach Garden Friends’ board realized that remaining a “secret” garden was not a path to sustainability. We asked Joey to help us brainstorm ways to encourage new people to become involved. That conversation over lunch 15 years ago was a turning point. Joey thought that one way to help transition Leach Garden from secret garden to a significant gem on Portland’s east side would be to try to bridge the east-west  divide. And she was up for the challenge. Not only did she come up with ideas, she spearheaded many of them herself. She initiated a series of “Walk & Talks”, inviting small groups of people to the Garden for a tour and follow-up chat over tea. Over the next few years, scores of Joey’s Walk & Talks took place. She held events at the Garden herself and encouraged friends as well as the Portland Garden Club and other organizations to do so as well. Each of these occasions provided an opportunity for staff and board members to share the Garden’s story and invite people to become a part of the Garden’s future. As a result, many of those guests joined as members and are still supporters today. Several became more actively involved, on the board, as volunteers, as grantors, and as advocates. The secret was out. 

At our 30^th Anniversary celebration in 2014, Joey spoke eloquently about the important role of the Garden and vision for its future. She followed that up by serving as the honorary chair of the capital campaign committee, and was single-handedly responsible for securing several significant donations toward implementing Phase I of the Garden’s Master Plan. At one point Joey, in her inimitable style, hosted a dinner at the Portland Racquet Club so that scores of her friends and potential supporters  could meet the Leach Garden design team and learn about the vision for the Garden. This event moved many from being politely interested in the Garden to becoming active donors. The success of Joey’s efforts are reflected in the $12 million upper garden development project that opened in 2021. A member of our Council of Advisors since 2013, Joey provided much-appreciated advice and encouragement. To us, Joey is and will always be a treasure. 

David Porter served as the Leach Garden Friends Executive Director from 2010 – 2021

Gay Greger is a member of the Leach Garden Friends Board of Directors