IN MEMORIAM

Irénée “Brip” du Pont, Jr. (January 8, 1920–January 16, 2023) was one the Brandywine’s earliest and most loyal donors. Grants from Crystal Trust, the foundation created by his father in 1947 and overseen by Mr. du Pont for many decades, funded dozens of significant projects at the Brandywine over the years.

An engineer by trade, Mr. du Pont understood the need for robust mechanical systems. Through Crystal Trust, he funded many capital projects at the Brandywine that increased efficiency and saved critical operating funds. Having known Andrew Wyeth from a young age, he also had a soft spot in his heart for projects related to the Wyeth family. As a result, he and his fellow trustees approved grants over the years that improved lighting in the Museum’s Mill galleries, shored up the historical properties, and replaced the organization’s cooling towers—to name only a few of the many important projects that benefited the Brandywine and its visitors.

Mr. du Pont was well-known for his intelligence, generosity and humility. Above all else, he was kind. In appreciation of his kindness and for his meaningful contributions over the years, staff planted 10 winterberry bushes in Founders’ Grove—located in Potts Meadow, along the Brandywine’s campus—to honor Mr. du Pont’s 100th birthday in January 2020. A year later, those bushes were interplanted with native plants in memory of his beloved wife, Barbara. Today, those plantings thrive together, a fitting tribute to the couple’s 77 years of marriage and to their many years of generous support that have left the Brandywine better off and positioned for more success in the years to come.