Beth Hunter, colleague, J.W. McConnell Family Foundation

The day that I knew was coming, and did not want to come, has come. So much did I want Pegi to keep lighting the world with her gentle smile and clear blue gaze, her love of nature and of her family and friends, her endless generosity and frequent acts of kindness. And yet she took what came to her with such grace and good humour that I wonder who I am to protest. I do though:

Gone, gone, the good ones

The ones who tore a hole in the sky and climbed through

The salt of the earth

The blue hen's chickens. 

I had the enormous good fortune of working with Pegi for 6-7 years, on the CEGN Board and as co-chair of the Low Carbon Funders' Group. Together we had so many moments of fun, of hard work, of euphoria and disappointments, of hilarity and perseverance, of great learning and real accomplishments. Pegi was always, always ready to go the extra mile to make the work better and my job easier. (This was especially appreciated in my role as Board Treasurer . . .) It also made it hard to say no to her! I'll always remember our colleague Margaret Herriman standing bleary-eyed at the door of the conference breakfast room as a greeter, saying 'I am really, really not a morning person—but Pegi asked me to do this and I would jump off a cliff for Pegi Dover'. 

I had much less contact with Pegi since her diagnosis and retirement, partly because I was in France all of last year with my family. But even in our sporadic letter, email and text exchanges, she managed to inspire me, recommending The OverStory and sharing her ever deepening connection to nature. 

I think Pegi is the most generous person I ever met. She will always be in my heart.