AWF Trustee Stuart Scott: 1938-2019

AWF is deeply saddened to share news of the death of our friend and valued trustee Stuart L. Scott. We extend our sincerest condolences to his family.

Stuart was a longtime conservationist who cared deeply about the future of Africa’s wildlife and wild lands. He joined the AWF Board of Trustees in 2009 and served as chair of the board’s Classroom Africa committee. Classroom Africa works with local communities to rebuild primary schools in exchange for significant conservation commitments. It brings high-quality education to remote villages and has a record of improving student enrollment and performance as well as teacher morale and professional development.

“We will miss Stuart,” said AWF Board Chair Heather Haaga. “He was devoted to the preservation of wild lands and wild animals. He asked hard questions.  He was smart, and we all profited from his experience and wisdom.”

Stuart brought a wealth of business acumen and executive management experience to AWF. Before entering retirement in 2005, he was CEO of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated or JLL, a leading commercial real estate services and investment management firm with 9,000 employees based in five countries. Previously, he headed LaSalle Partners, leading the firm’s rapid growth, initial public offering, and a merger and acquisition program culminating in JLL. He started his career as an attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Throughout his professional life, Stuart received numerous distinguished awards including the 2004 Urban Land Institute Lifetime Achievement Award and the Executive of the Year award from Commercial Property Executive.

He was an active and dedicated supporter of causes he found meaningful. In addition to serving as an AWF trustee, he was a member of the board of directors and seven-year board chair of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, a charter member and chairman emeritus of the board of trustees of Hamilton College, and a member of the board of trustees of the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

He had a degree in English literature from New York’s Hamilton College and a J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law.

Stuart was 80 years old and the father of seven children and grandfather of nine. He and his wife, Anne, divided their free time between their homes in Lake Bluff, Illinois and Jupiter Island, Florida.

Reflecting Stuart’s generous spirit and commitment to AWF, his family is encouraging those who would like to honor and celebrate Stuart’s life to make donations to AWF.