September 14, 2025
The Stockbridge Land Trust lost a valued and dedicated leader with the passing of Shep Evans this last month. Shep was one of the founding members of the Land Trust, served for many years as a trustee and multiple terms as president.
Shep had a wealth of knowledge about the conservation of vulnerable and and environmentally sensitive areas in town. He documented the location and extent of vernal pools within Stockbridge and surrounding towns. Shep’s extensive knowledge of ecology and environmental protection methods made him a valuable expert for the Land Trust. He also worked closely with the town conservation commission, the regional conservation associations and the State and Federal departments of environmental management.
One of the long-standing tenets of the Stockbridge Land Trust has been to protect the entryways into Town. Among Shep’s many achievements in service to the Land Trust and our Town was an instrumental role in the saving of the invaluable 23-acre “4 Corners” parcel at the northwest corner of Routes 102 and 183.
Shep was always a gentle presence – kind, and good humored. He was very clever and enjoyed all aspects of the environment around him. He organized and ran the annual “peeper contest”. He kept meticulous records about time and place. The first person to hear the small tree frog peeping in the spring won a lunch with him at the Red Lion Inn.
Shep’s knowledge of the values of environmental protection and the contribution that the Stockbridge Land Trust could contribute to those goals and Shep’s friendly personality will be missed by the entire town.