William Dale Dana Jr.

1929 - 2013

William Dale Dana, Jr., of Livingston, Mont., and Morristown, N.J., passed away peacefully on Feb. 14, 2013, at his Morristown home of 51 years. Born in 1929 in New York City and raised West Orange, N.J., he was the son of William D. Dana and Margaret Leach Dana.

After graduating in 1947 from The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn., and from Princeton University in 1951, Bill married Emma Joy Linen, and they recently celebrated their 62nd anniversary. Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 1951, and received an Honorable Discharge as a 1st Lieutenant in June 1953.

With a 1955 graduate degree from Harvard Business School, Bill began a long and successful career as an investment manager in New York City. When Bill's father passed away in 1965, he and his brother sold his father's ranch in California, but Bill's longing for the west and his growing interest in fly fishing drew him to Montana for family vacations. In 1969, Bill and Emma Joy purchased a ranch south of Livingston, and they spent the rest of their lives together dividing their time between New Jersey and Livingston. In Montana, Bill and Emma Joy enjoyed deep and abiding friendships with neighbors, visitors, and fishermen from all over the world.

Bill gave his time and managerial talents generously to a wide range of individuals and organizations. Three areas were of particular interest to him: education, fly-fishing, and conservation. In addition to his long years of service to his own and his children's schools, Bill's commitment to conservation was lasting and extraordinary. For many years, he served on the board, including as president, of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and was a founder of The Harding Land Trust. In Montana, Bill and Emma Joy granted one of the first conservation easements in the state to Trout Unlimited, later transferred to The Montana Land Reliance, where he served on the Advisory Council for over twenty years. In recognition of Bill's and Emma Joy's commitment to land conservation, they were honored as "Landowners of the Year" by the Joe Brooks Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and they received the Montana Land Reliance's "Conservationists of the Year" award from The Montana Land Reliance.

Bill is survived by Emma Joy, his wife of 62 years, and by his four sons: Richard of Bethesda, Md., John of Bernardsville, N.J., Andrew of Bozeman, Mont., and Gordon of New York, N.Y. Bill is also survived by four devoted grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place and interment will occur in New Jersey. Memorial services will occur in the spring and summer. Donations in honor of Bill's life may be made to The Montana Land Reliance, P.O. Box 355, Helena, MT 59624.