Our Wildwood, Volume 50

IN MEMORIAM A Special Tribute

Ken Brecher

It’s no coincidence that former Wildwood trustee and parent of alumnus Ken Brecher found his calling as the longtime leader of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles. If his own life were a book, it would be quite the page-turner. Certainly, there would be a chapter on his academic successes at Cornell, and subsequently, as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. Following that, a chapter devoted to his anthropological work in South America, where he spent two years studying and living alongside the indigenous people of the Brazilian rainforest. And of course, a series of chapters covering his tenure as executive director of Sundance Institute—one of many organizations that looked to Ken to diversify and enhance their cultural offerings. Ken passed away on Dec. 11, 2023, of complications from cancer. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Rickman, and son Piers, who graduated from Wildwood School in 2012. Ken’s love of our school and enthusiastic vision for its future is inextricably intertwined with Wildwood’s own story, having supported and enabled many of the milestones that make Wildwood what it is today. Ken joined Wildwood’s Board of Trustees in 2002, just two years after the establishment of Wildwood’s middle and upper school programs. It was during his tenure that the school acquired its first property, which Wildwood still owns, and the school’s newly formed K-12 identity was both shaped and strengthened. Ken retired from the board in 2013, and continued to serve as a key advisor and ardent supporter of Wildwood for the following decade. Head of School Landis Green reflected, “Ken was on the search committee that brought me to Wildwood School. Meeting him and other members of the committee in August 2006, I couldn’t then know how much of an impact he’d have on my life. I know I’m in good company expressing that sentiment.” Ken believed in the transformative power of the arts and humanities, leaving a legacy that can be felt not just at Wildwood, but globally. His loss is a great one. He will be sorely missed.

KEN’S LOVE OF OUR SCHOOL AND ENTHUSIASTIC VISION FOR ITS FUTURE IS INEXTRICABLY INTERTWINED WITH WILDWOOD’S OWN STORY.

OWW WINTER 2024

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