The Albert Wadsworth and Helen Clark Meserve Memorial Fund

About the Foundation Established in 1983, the Albert Wadsworth and Helen Clark Meserve Memorial Fund is a private foundation that supports a range of public, charitable, and educational projects and organizations that have an impact on the Greater Danbury area in Fairfield County, Connecticut. A nationally recognized arborist during his lifetime, Albert Wadsworth Meserve was known locally in and around Danbury, Connecticut as a prominent businessman and an active volunteer in civic and charitable activities throughout the Greater Danbury area. Al Meserve was born in Framingham, Massachusetts on January 14, 1898, graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1920, and pursued a career in landscaping, horticulture, and arboriculture for the following 50 years. During his career, he served as president of the Connecticut Tree Protective Association, the National Arborists Association, and the International Shade Tree Conference. He was a visiting lecturer on arborial subjects at colleges and forums nationwide. In 1932, he married Helen Clark of New Milford, who was a secretary at the Lee Hat Company and a volunteer at the Danbury Hospital for many years. Al Meserve was active on Danbury’s Recreation Committee and served as chairman of its Board of Commissioners. He also served as president of the Community Chest and the Danbury Chapter of the American Red Cross, and was commander of the American Legion Post No. 60. He was president of the Danbury Museum Historical Society and of the Scott-Fanton Museum. Al Meserve was the major developer of Camp Mauwehu on Candlewood Lake. He was also former president of the Mauwehu Council of the Boy Scouts. In recognition of this community service, he was the recipient of the Exchange Club’s “Book of Golden Deeds Award” in 1968. Following retirement from his own tree business in 1971, Al Meserve raised purebred Polled Hereford cattle at his farm in New Milford, Connecticut. He died in September of 1978, and Helen died the following month. Their Wills jointly established the Albert Wadsworth Meserve and Helen Clark Memorial Fund to serve as a legacy and perpetuate their interest in charitable programs of the Greater Danbury region. Mission To support public, charitable, and educational projects and organizations that have an impact on the Greater Danbury area in Fairfield County, Connecticut.