WRWA Volunteer Spotlight - Richard Ilgen

Richard and his wife Sandra, enjoying a Red Sox game at Fenway Park. They actually won the tickets at WRWA's Gala auction!

🌊 Meet Richard: A Volunteer Making Waves🌊

If you’ve spent any time around the Westport River Watershed Alliance (WRWA), chances are you’ve crossed paths with Richard Ilgen or seen the impact of his work. Richard has been a dedicated WRWA member since 2001! This coming August is extra special for not only WRWA in celebrating our 50th, but Richard and his partner Sandra will also celebrate their 50th anniversary right alongside WRWA!

After a career as an Information Systems Developer in Boston, Richard turned his focus to giving back to the community. He volunteers weekly at the Westport Food Pantry and supports organizations like the Westport Land Conservation Trust (WLCT) and Mass Audubon. He’s also a familiar face at local events such as the Duck Derby, River Day, beach cleanups, and the Summer Gala.

Richard’s connection to the river runs even deeper than volunteering. Inspired by WRWA’s River Day in 2012, he set out to honor a dear friend. What began as a simple idea for a memorial bench blossomed into sponsoring an osprey stand. That experience ignited his passion for osprey monitoring and led him to join Mass Audubon’s Trail Blazers group.

When he’s not volunteering, Richard enjoys boating, fishing, shell fishing, and beachcombing. He values working with WRWA “for the chance to meet and connect with others who care deeply about protecting the river and stewarding it for future generations.” Volunteers like Richard are essential to WRWA - they don’t just show up, they help keep the spirit of the river alive. 💙

Thank you Richard for all that you do!

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