Name: Visitation for James J. Brett
Start: 2024-01-04T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2024-01-05T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Ludwick Funeral Homes and Cremation Care, Inc. - Kutztown

James J. Brett, Curator Emeritus, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary James J. Brett, 84, of Kempton, died on Friday, December 29, 2023 at Cornerstone Living, in New Tripoli, Pennsylvania. He was the husband of the late Dorothy R. (Wirtz) Brett who died in September 2020. Born in Easton, Pennsylvania, and raised in Shillington, Pennsylvania, James was the son of the late John T. (Jack) Brett, and Anna (Heckenberger) Brett. He was a graduate of Governor Mifflin High School and Kutztown State Teachers' College where he received a Bachelor's degree in Education. James completed postgraduate studies at Cornell University and University of Southern California and was presented with an honorary Doctoral Degree from Kutztown University in 2011. James Brett was a prominent figure in the area of conservation education on a global scale. James was the former Curator at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary where he initiated the International Global Wildlife Educational Internship Program in 1976, as well as his work on wildlife heritage in the Commonwealth. He was named Curator Emeritus at Hawk Mountain in 2013. After James left Hawk Mountain in 1996, he was named the first Executive Director of the Ned Smith Center for Nature and the Arts, before being appointed by former Gov. Ridge as the Commonwealth's Senior Conservation Advisor. During his tenure with Ridge, he formed the Governor's Youth Council for Sportsmen's Concerns and Conservation. James continued his conservation work with the state government into Governor Rendell's administration where he served as an Assistant to the Secretary of Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. James was recognized by the Department of Environmental Protection as one of the top environmental leaders of Pennsylvania and was the co-founder of the PA Institute for Conservation Education which has received recognition from across the state for its development of innovative natural history education and stewardship programs offered to a diverse audience. James traveled extensively around the world and led wildlife excursions to Eastern and Southern Africa, Israel and Central America with his company, The Naturecorp Group. James also led the Ngare Sero Foot Print Project working with Tanzania Division of Antiquities under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. James was a prolific writer having authored and co-authored three books, Feathers in the Wind, The Mountain and the Migration: A Guide to Hawk Mountain, and Hawk Mountain: A Conservation Success Story. James is survived by his three children, Dr. Christine (Brett), wife of Donald Ryan, Kutztown, Andrew Brett, Kutztown, and Matthew Brett, husband of Shelby (Rudolph), Lenhartsville; four grandchildren, Cecily Ryan, Michaela Ryan, Mason Brett, and Mitchell Brett. In addition to his parents, he was preceded by brother, Thomas Brett and a daughter, Suzanne Brett. A visitation for James will be held on Thursday, January 4, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Ludwick Funeral Homes and Cremation Care, Inc., 333 Greenwich Street, Kutztown, PA. Inurnment at Snyder's Cemetery, in Albany Township, will be private and at the convenience of the family. A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. at the Kempton Fire Company, 2461 PA-143, Kempton, PA. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in James' memory to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 1700 Hawk Mountain Road, Kempton, PA 19529 or Kempton Fire Company, P.O. Box 62, Kempton, PA 19529. Ludwick Funeral Homes and Cremation Care, Inc., Kutztown, PA is in charge of arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.Ludwickfh.com.

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Published by Reading Eagle from Jan. 2 to Jan. 3, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for James Brett

Sponsored by Ludwick Funeral Homes and Cremation Care, Inc. - Kutztown.

15 Entries

Colleen Mccarthy

January 19, 2025

My greatest sympathy to Jim´s Family. I recently learned of his death. He was our guide & friend on a trip to Tanzania in 2008, my now deceased husband, Dan Hill & he served together on a conservation board. Jim turned me into a birder & was brilliant & funny. Colleen mccarthy, erie

Josh

December 26, 2024

Year later just writing to say I still see you and hear you in the woods, Jim. Hope the spirit world is good.

Kerry T. Givens

February 22, 2024

I met Jim when I was about 13 or 14 years old and just getting started as a birdwatcher. We were both fortunate to share a common friend, the wildlife artist and consummate naturalist Ned Smith. It was a high honor for me to sit on the North Lookout with those two experts teaching me the ropes. And I was most lucky to be there on a day when a most unexpected migrant flew by--- a Gyrfalcon. Neither Ned nor Jim could believe their eyes. It was a thrilling moment and I was grateful they were both there to cinch the ID.

Godspeed, Jim.

JEFFREY T BITZER

January 27, 2024

What a shining star was Jim Brett! I counted aquatic specimens for him when he co-authored a study of the Codorus Creek in the late '60s while teaching at Northeastern York County High School. He wrote under a pen name for our student independent newspaper to avoid conflict with the school administration. While he is noted for his nature and conservation efforts, I will best remember his wit and sense of irony. There are many Brett stories. My favorite is when he took frozen fish, stuck them in a snow drift outside his classroom and convinced some classmates that they were "snow fish" that would return each winter. You can see the sparkle in his eye.

Joan L Bitzer

January 27, 2024

Although I didn't know exactly what to do with his sense of humor as his 10th grade biology student, I knew he was as an excellent teacher and liked him a lot. Years later as he visited us at our farm and gathered all in attendance with his tales, doubling everyone over in laughter, I appreciated him even more! Wishes for peace and comfort to his family and all who loved him.

John McHenry

January 27, 2024

Jim Bret inspired me to engage the natural world. Carl Koval said it best when he expressed Brett´s attributes as a teacher. The Oerwood Nature Center was his creation. "Early December 1967, the the Ecology Club of Northeastern High School gave of their weekends and holidays to develop a beautiful piece of a useful and educational nature laboratory on the property of Carl H Oerman (now Shady Lane) and called it Oerwood. In 1969, when James Brett, who was a teacher at Northeastern High School and sponsored of its Ecology Club, visited in Aspen, Colorado, he was impressed with the Roaring Fork Braille Trail. When School reconvened in the fall, he suggested to his Club members that they add a Braille Trail to Oerwood Trails. After many hours of dedication from the Ecology Club, York Jaycees, Scouts, and Mitchell Galloway, the Oerwood Braille Trail was dedicated in June 1970. It was the first of its kind in PA. In 1971, the Susquehanna Lions Club and the Oerwood Nature Association adopted the trail as a project. The Trail received national recognition and seven students were awarded the President's Environmental Merit Award."
Thank you Jim!
John McHenry

Carl Koval

January 24, 2024

Jim Brett was my 9th grade earth science and 10th grade biology at Northeastern High School in the late 1960´s. The attached photo is from my senior yearbook. He was the most inspirational and memorable teacher I had at NHS in any subject. When it came to his willingness to engage students outside the classroom, Jim Brett was nothing short of remarkable. He formed the Ecology Club and being involved in its activities resulted in so many fond memories that it is hard to remember them all. Goodbye Jim - you will be remembered and missed. Carl Koval, Arvada, CO.

Christine Rankin

January 22, 2024

I spent Y2K with Jim in the middle of the Serengeti! It was the trip of a lifetime! I was a young solo traveler within the tour group he was guiding and he made sure I was always included and at ease... and the stories he told around the fire! What an amazing life he lived! Rest in Peace!

Cheryl Knabb

January 21, 2024

Jim Brett camera-shy??? Actually, I think this is Jim's sign language telling us to "not touch any of the Leakey's rocks" at Olduvai Gorge! Jim was very kind to all he met. As a great Teacher, Naturalist and human being, he did his utmost to save our environment while improving others' lives.
To his family who shared Jim with many others, may you find solace in those many who now carry his torch.
Here's a Konyaki to you, my friend Jim. Rest peacefully with the giants

Josh First

January 9, 2024

Sorry to lose you, old friend.

Abdi Saidi

January 4, 2024

I will remember Jim Brett for a lot, I was his safari guide at the time he was bringing guests to visit Tanzania National parks he taught me a lot about animals, birds and plants. And he was also a very kind person to the staff of the camp where we were camping. I remember one day we were traveling from Ngorongoro Crater to Lake Natron through Malambo Village Jim Brett told me he wanted to meet his friend called Peter Sing at Malambo that they had not seen each other since 2011. We managed to find him and Jim was very happy and we took pictures with him. This showed the that Jim was a man of people, he loved people and he was generous to people of all kind. My deepest condolences to Jim Brett's family for the loss of their loved one.
R.I.P MY FRIEND JIM BRETT

Rich Willingmyre

January 3, 2024

My sincere condolences to the family. Jim was a very good friend of mine in school. We attended governor Mifflin from sixth grade through 12th. We raised some cain but it was all in fun. Jim was one of those people who would put a smile on your face regardless of who you were. He will be sorely missed by his friends and colleagues

Gary Shimmel

January 3, 2024

I met Jim in 1997 when he led the saw whet owl banding project with the Ned Smith Center. We worked together a number of nights and his stories and sense of humor made for some fun evenings. Rest in Peace, Jim.
Gary Shimmel

Robert Rudolph MD

January 2, 2024

I remember him as an always interesting, affable, voluble, smart, and nice man. My condolences to the family.

Nancy Berkheimer

January 2, 2024

Mr. Brett was a wonderful teacher. He was a unique man with a great sense of humor!

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