Victor Trodella’s Inspiration to Give

“I immediately fell in love with the people and the land and now I want to do whatever I can to help out.”

Victor Trodella was on a Maine Coast Heritage Trust tour of Cobscook Bay, looking out across the water edged with silver as the sun set, when an idea came to him. Before departing from the boat, he said to the couple beside him, “I’m going to put Maine Coast Heritage Trust in my will.”

Soon afterward, he did just that. Victor worked with Planned Giving Officer David Warren and his attorney to arrange for MCHT to receive the remaining value in his home at the time of his passing.

Victor, who practiced architecture for fifty years before recently retiring, came to Maine in 1973 and has considered this place home ever since. “I immediately fell in love with the people and the land and now I want to do whatever I can to help out,” says Victor. 

He was inspired to make his first gift to Maine Coast Heritage Trust following the death of a life- long friend who was a committed conservationist. In 2021, Victor pitched in to help protect and care for Little Whaleboat Island in Casco Bay. As he learned more about MCHT and its impact, his interest in and support for the organization grew.

“I trust MCHT to do the right thing because I see them doing the right thing all the time. The proof is in the land that they have saved that benefits all of us, and that future generations will be able to enjoy. Giving to MCHT is something that I can do to make a positive impact on my local ecology and the people of Maine.” 

There are countless ways to make the Maine coast a part of your legacy with a planned gift, and it’s never too soon to consider how you might make a difference. Visit mcht.org/legacy to learn more or reach out to David Warren at or 207-522-9228.