Donna Lee Hart

Dr. Donna Lee Hart died at age 77 after a brief illness on March 24^th at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in Saint Peters, Missouri.  She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Al Bruns and survived by her children David (Karen) Hart , Jon (Debbie) Bruns , Joy (Jim) Luttrell, and Joel (Regina) Bruns.  Donna was blessed with grandchildren Jackson, Parker, Christopher, Adam, Holden, Ryan, Sarah, Claire, Abby, and eight great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Diane Telle.

Donna had a lifelong passion for protecting the environment, and a career in wildlife conservation that spanned 33 years of advocacy for wildlife across the globe.  She was a Senior Director and Legislative Liason at the International Fund for Animal Welfare, as well as the Vice President of the International Wildlife Coalition.  After earning her Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from Washington University in Saint Louis, Donna went on to teach at the University of Missouri in Saint Louis where she became the Director of Undergraduate Research in the Department of Anthropology.   Donna was the author of Man the Hunted: Primates, Predators, and Human Evolution and published numerous articles on anthropology and conservation in various academic journals. A mutual devotion to wildlife and habitat conservation resulted in Donna meeting Al and they were married in 1978.  Vacations always included hiking, backpacking, and appreciation of wildlife throughout the western US and in other countries and continents.

Donna was an avid reader, gardener, and mother of many pets including countless dogs, cats, and horses that she cherished and adored.  In addition to her professional career in conservation, Donna also donated generously to the Defenders of Wild Life, Nature Conservancy, Earth Justice, and organizations that protected horses and wolves.  She loved volunteering at Wild Bird Rehabilitation and took every chance she could to help an animal in need whether it meant stopping traffic to let turtles cross the road, or taking injured bunnies to a rehabilitation center.  Her greatest pride was that her legacy of kindness and concern for all creatures survives in her children and grandchildren.

Contributions in lieu of flowers are encouraged to: Five Acres Animal Shelter, Wild Bird Rehabilitation, and Wildlife Rescue Center Ballwin, MO

The family invites you to watch a live webcasting of the memorial service here.
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