A Shared Love of Gardens

By Bill Kleese

My late partner Hal Snyder and I have been members of the Arabella and Henry Huntington Heritage Society for over 20 years.

Hal, who passed away in January of 2018, grew up on his grandfather's farm in Oregon. His father was a plants man, and Hal "had the privilege" of helping with roses, irises, and more. Hal's first career was as a biology teacher in his former high school and later he became a representative for a foreign language textbook based in the Southwest. On one of his sales trips, he was thrilled to come across The Huntington—a great discovery that he then shared with me.

At the time that we purchased our home, Hartree Grove, in Riverside, we bought a triplex in San Pedro. What started as an easy venture ultimately turned into a real albatross. About that time, we met The Huntington's planned giving director to discuss options for making a charitable gift. The idea of donating the San Pedro property to a charitable remainder trust appealed greatly, as did the promise of a quarterly payment, tax benefits, and helping to make a great institution even greater. After making the gift, we joined the Heritage Society, by which we met other planned giving donors as well as the wonderful people who work there.

My latest interest is supporting the Chinese Garden. It has been a great addition, and I'm excited to see it grow not only as a beautiful and serene garden, but as a bridge for visitors from all backgrounds to learn about Chinese art, history, and culture. The Huntington has been so meaningful to both Hal and me, and it has been a joy supporting a place that we love.

You can become members of the Arabella and Henry Huntington Heritage Society—like Bill and Hal—by including The Huntington in your estate plan. To learn more, contact Cris Lutz at clutz@huntington.org or 626.405.2212.