Jorie Butler Kent, a driving force behind tour operator Abercrombie & Kent's nonprofit organization and the former wife of A&K founder Geoffrey Kent, has died at age 95.
Butler Kent died Jan. 16, according to the Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame, from which she received the Museum of Polo Iglehart Award last year.
Tributes posted on social media by those who knew Butler Kent paint a picture of a remarkable and trailblazing woman.
Kent called her his "partner in so many of life's great adventures." Together, they founded Friends of Conservation in Kenya to help save black rhinos from poaching.
"That became her lifelong mission and ultimately inspired the creation of A&K Philanthropy, which continues to make a difference around the world today," Kent posted on Instagram.
Butler Kent's daughter, Reute, has led the conservation since 2009 and will continue to do so, Kent said.
Photo Credit: Abercrombie & Kent
"Jorie was a woman of remarkable strength, conviction and grace," Kent said. "Anyone who met her felt her passion and her unwavering belief that one person truly can make a difference. Her loss is deeply felt, but the legacy of her work, and the countless lives she changed, will endure for generations to come."
Abercrombie & Kent said on Instagram, "Jorie's vision and compassion helped establish our commitment to giving back to the communities we visit. Her legacy lives on in every life we touch through our philanthropic work."
The polo museum praised Butler Kent's prowess as a champion equestrian and competitive polo player. Her grandfather and father founded Oak Brook Polo Club in Illinois in 1922. There, Butler Kent became the first woman to lead a polo club, according to the museum.
Butler Kent became the first woman to receive a USPA handicap in 1972 and won two U.S. Opens, two Gold Cups, two Continental Cups, two Butler Handicaps, two Cadillac Cups and a Rolex World Cup.