Ci siamo! “We are here!” is the mantra of Arnold Arboretum members Cynthia A. Clark and Willard G. McGraw, Jr., an Italian phrase engraved on the commemorative bench they donated on Peters Hill last summer. Throughout their relationship (the couple married in 1991), Cynthia and Willard have made a conscious effort to “traipse off the beaten path,” be it in the Arboretum landscape, Italy, Kenya, Peru, Indonesia, or wherever life has taken them. They endeavor to make the most of every moment, knowing how fleeting life can be.
A special marker of a beloved place for the couple, their bench represents, in Willard’s words, “a sense of explicit belonging to the place that will endure long beyond us.” Willard’s connection to the Arboretum dates to his years as a young man at Harvard College and has lasted through many rotations of seasons as well as seasons of his life—as a student, as a father, and now as a grandfather whose grandchildren roam the same landscape that first enamored him in the 1950s.
After decades of enjoyment, Cynthia and Willard are thoughtful about how they want to give back to the Arboretum landscape that they love. “We enjoy the Arboretum so much ourselves, so it’s important to us to pass that enjoyment down as we build our legacy,” Cynthia shares. “Supporting the Arboretum is philanthropy for a worthy cause.”
They have both included the Arboretum in their wills for years, but only recently learned about the James Arnold Society—our giving society that honors donors who notify us that the Arnold Arboretum is remembered in their estate planning. Throughout the year, James Arnold Society members are invited to special events, tours, and learning opportunities in the landscape led by our senior staff members, followed by wine, hors d’oeuvres, and camaraderie. Past programs have included spotlights on the magnolia collection, evergreen and deciduous conifers, and the many textures and colors of tree bark.
Now as members of the James Arnold Society, Cynthia and Willard will enjoy experiencing further connection and engagement with our landscape and community. “Our love for this place just grows and grows,” Cynthia remarks. “We love seeing all the people in the landscape—all ages and all backgrounds. The diversity of people who enjoy the Arboretum gives us a feeling of hope for the present and the future.” By informing the Arboretum about bequests or other planned gifts, supporters can feel proud of the joy they are providing for future generations of visitors, and they can also enjoy the Arboretum more themselves as part of the James Arnold Society. Cynthia and Willard feel this same pride and joy from their commemorative bench.
When originally planning their bench installation and dedication, Cynthia kept debating what would be the perfect timing—which major birthday or anniversary should be celebrated with their bench? But after a serious health scare, waiting for the next milestone occasion with a flashy, round number didn’t matter anymore. As Cynthia shared at their bench dedication ceremony in June 2024, “Why wait? By dedicating a bench this year, today, right now, we will get to enjoy it together on our frequent walks around Peters Hill and all over the Arboretum from now ‘to infinity and beyond.’” Thus the event took place on their thirty-third wedding anniversary with family and friends in attendance. The couple shared thoughtful remarks to christen their bench, including Willard’s apt recitation of Mary Oliver’s “When I am Among the Trees” with lines such as: Around me the trees stir in their leaves / and call out, ‘Stay awhile.’
While the idea for the bench largely came about from a desire to memorialize their love for each other and for the Arboretum, they are grateful they didn’t wait so that they can create new memories in our landscape during their lifetimes. “What started out as a future memorial bench turned into a life celebratory bench in the course of a few months,” Cynthia shares. Friends will snap pictures of the bench and send them to Cynthia and Willard, and the couple themselves take frequent photos together on the bench to document its beauty throughout the year.
With their regular visits, sponsored bench, and formalized legacy planning, Cynthia and Willard feel an even greater sense of belonging at the Arboretum. “The Arboretum is a unique place of incredible beauty—one of the greatest gifts ever given to the City of Boston,” reflects Willard. The couple enjoys their frequent walks in the landscape and moments of rest and reflection on their commemorative bench even more now that they know they are part of preserving this gift for future generations.
If you would also like to make the Arnold Arboretum a part of your legacy and join the James Arnold Society, email development@arnarb.harvard.edu. To learn more about gift planning at the Arnold Arboretum, please visit our gift planning page.