Member Spotlight – Tim Pifer, Concord
Our new Member Spotlight is on Tim Pifer, a long-time Five Rivers member and volunteer. Tim recently retired after a distinguished 30-year career in New Hampshire’s Police Forensic Laboratory, the facility that analyzes crime scene evidence from across the state. He had been the lab’s director for 23 years.
Tim is a charter member of our Conservation Leader Society, a group that provides essential ongoing support to sustain Five Rivers as a successful organization. Tim also volunteers his time as an easement monitor for Five Rivers. Easement monitors annually walk their assigned property to determine whether it is in compliance with easement terms, maintain a working relationship with the landowner, and create a record of easement stewardship and property condition over time. They are the eyes and ears for our conserved lands! (If you are interested in being an easement monitor, please contact Alison Scheiderer, our Land Conservation Specialist.)
Name: Tim Pifer
Town of residence: Concord
Lived in New Hampshire since: 1985
How did you first become aware of Five Rivers? I first became aware of Concord Conservation Trust when my wife Julie and I bought land in Concord in the early 1990’s and donated to their mission. I have been a strong supporter of Five Rivers Conversation Trust throughout the ensuing years.
For you, what’s the most important function Five Rivers serves? For me, the most important function of 5RCT is the preservation and conservation of our open spaces and ensuring these spaces remain open in perpetuity.
Does or how does your day job intersect with your Five Rivers membership? During the past 30 years, my day job (which also turned into a night job at times) involved dealing with the most heinous crimes in New Hampshire. I needed to find an outlet to de-stress and decompress. That outlet became trail running and hiking in the trails around Concord. Most of these spaces are conserved directly or have the easements held by Five Rivers. I became involved with the trails committee in Concord and a strong supporter of Five Rivers as a way to give back for the “therapy” they provided me over the years. As I am newly retired, my use of these local open spaces will become even more frequent, but without the need for stress relief!
What is your favorite Five Rivers property right now, and briefly, why? I am partial to Carter Hill Orchard as I used to live nearby. Not only is it a working farm, but also has amazing woods and a beautiful pond. Additionally, this property is a great reminder of how crucial protecting land from potential development is as this could have become a significant housing project in 2000.
What question do you wish people would ask you about Five Rivers?
Q: Why is the name of the conservation organization called Five Rivers – don’t you protect more than those waterways? Absolutely, not only are the waterways conserved and protected, but the surrounding lands that adjoin and lead to them are as well.
What’s your favorite way to spend a free day? On my free days (which have become more numerous), I enjoy hiking or trail running, both locally and in the White Mountains.
What’s something you love to do outside in New Hampshire this year? I enjoy creating and maintaining Concord’s extensive hiking trails, which now total over 80 miles. Working in the woods is great mental therapy and super relaxing.
What else do you think people would like to know about you or do you wish we’d asked? I recently retired after a 30-year career with the state of New Hampshire. My transition plan from working to retired status involved hiking Vermont’s 275+ mile Long Trail. Not only did this 19-day adventure give me a restorative reset and transformative insights into what’s next in my life, it further proved how valuable and critical preserving open spaces are for future generations to enjoy!
