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Mysterious Donor Leaves Behind an $8 Million Gift

CFECT Archives
One of the few photographs of Peter Grayson Letz. The North Stonington Resident died last year and left $8 million to the CFECT.

A reclusive North Stonington resident who died in September has left an approximately $8 million donation to the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut. According to the group, it's the largest gift it's ever received.

There's not a lot known about Peter Grayson Letz. Even finding a picture of him is difficult. (The one above is one of his few known photos.) Letz attended Pine Point School and later, Fitch High School in Groton.

MaryamElahi, director of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, said she never even met him. "Mr. Letz was a very private person and so nobody could have guessed that he was moved in this direction," she said.

That "direction" was a roughly $8 million gift to the Community Foundation with one stipulation. Use the money to educate people about the environment and to protect animals and wildlife. "It's the biggest gift ever in the history of the Community Foundation," Elahi said. "Of course it's surprising and it's delightful." 

Letz's family did have some history with the Community Foundation. His parents, George and Beverly, set up scholarships for high school students at Fitch and at North Stonington's Wheeler High School.

Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. He can be reached at pskahill@ctpublic.org.

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