Walter Landgraf, 66, of Pleasant Valley, died suddenly on Monday (July 23, 2007) in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Landgraf was a graduate of the University of Connecticut, and was a popular teacher of biology and environmental technology at Northwestern Regional #7 High School in Winsted for over 30 years.

Among his many achievements, he was perhaps most well-known for his re-opening of the Stone Museum in Peoples Forest in 1993. It was there that he gave many public lectures, and it was in the forest itself that he took many groups on nature walks. There is a trail there today that is named for him.

As president of the Barkhamsted Historical Society, Landgraf was involved in research and hands-on restoration of the Squires Tavern. In addition to his work at the BHS, he was active in researching and lecturing on the colonial charcoal and iron industry in the area, and at the Squires Tavern in Pleasant Valley. He was also instrumental in the restoration of the Beckley Furnace in Canaan.

He will be most remembered for his many years as an inspiring teacher and as a fascinating speaker on natural history, specifically the beautiful forests of northwestern Connecticut.

Landgraf is survived by his wife Linne (Fenn) Landgraf of Pleasant Valley; a daughter and son-in-law, Kyli-Jill and Chris Streinz and their six children of Hersey, ME; a son, Erik and his wife Helen-Ann Landgraf of East Hartford; and a sister, Irene Rodgers of Nimrod, MS.