Katchen Coley Conservation Fund

A Legacy of Activism

With a journalist’s instinct for information, a global appreciation for life, and a passion for helping today while preserving for tomorrow – it is no wonder Katherine “Katchen” Coley thrived as an activist and advocate.

While Katchen’s life took her around the world, it was in Middletown and Middlesex County that inspired her to become nature’s advocate. She was dedicated to preserving the environment and fighting for stricter environmental regulations. Katchen had a long and distinguished career of environmental activism, regularly lobbying the Connecticut congressional delegation in Washington and joining numerous Connecticut-based organizations as an advocate. She fought against a coal-burning plant in Bridgeport and the Army Corps of Engineers’ plans to build atop a wetland. Katchen was also integral in spearheading the preservation of the Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate, a Middletown landmark.

Katchen’s life was anchored in her sense of community – the people and the place. Katchen inspired everyone she met, and her family and friends wanted to be sure her work would continue to inspire generations to come and support the community. Working with the Community Foundation, Katchen established the Katchen Coley Conservation Fund. She and her family and friends created a vehicle which will continue to do great things for years to come, provide others the opportunity to invest and leverage to do more good in Middletown, and work through the Community Foundation, an organization dedicated to bringing the community together.

The Katchen Coley Conservation Fund supports the preservation and enhancement of open space in Middletown and adjacent towns, ensuring Katchen’s dedication to the environment and her community will continue to keep her dreams alive while inspiring others to continue her legacy.