- Oak Brook Historical Society
- Jan 22
- 3 min read
Jorie Butler Kent, who died on January 16, 2026, was an astute businesswoman, pioneering conservationist, accomplished equestrian, licensed pilot, and professional photographer. She led a life defined by curiosity, discipline, and an enduring respect for the natural world. Through her vision and leadership, she helped shape the global luxury travel industry while setting enduring standards for responsible tourism and conservation.
Born in Chicago, Jorie was the daughter of Paul Butler and Marjorie Stresenreuter Butler, founders of the village of Oak Brook, Illinois, in 1964. From an early age, she was immersed in both her family’s entrepreneurial spirit and a deep love of sport and travel. Placed on a horse before she could walk, Jorie became a formidable equestrian, winning championships in horse shows and jumping events—including timber and flat races—by the age of 17. She hunted with her parents and two brothers, swam competitively, and played tennis and polo, pursuits that reflected a lifelong commitment to athletic excellence.
In 1972, Jorie acquired an ownership interest in Abercrombie & Kent, working closely with co-owner and business partner Geoffrey Kent to expand the company into one of the world’s foremost luxury travel firms. Her extensive travels—from the lamaseries of Tibet to the rainforests of Uganda—not only informed the company’s global reach but also deepened her respect for the cultures, landscapes, and wildlife she encountered.
That respect evolved into a lifelong dedication to conservation. In 1982, Jorie Butler Kent and Geoffrey Kent founded Friends of Conservation (FOC) to preserve and enhance the ecology of Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve. The organization became a pioneering model for sustainable tourism by actively involving local Maasai communities in conservation and education initiatives. In recognition of this groundbreaking work, HRH The Prince of Wales became FOC’s Patron in 1988. In 1999, Jorie received the Chevron Conservation Award for her efforts to protect wildlife and habitats in Kenya and Tanzania and for demonstrating how environmental stewardship and responsible capitalism could coexist.
Jorie later guided Abercrombie & Kent’s global conservation initiatives through Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy, ensuring that conservation remained integral to the company’s mission worldwide.
Her professional accomplishments extended well beyond travel and conservation. Deeply involved in her family’s enterprises, Jorie served as controller of Butler Aviation—founded by her father as a hobby and later grown into the nation’s largest fixed-base operator—and as Executive Vice President of Butler Overseas, a company she continued to own. A licensed pilot herself, she brought both technical skill and executive insight to her work.
From 1967 to 1979, as director of Butler’s Sports Core, she built and managed the Oak Brook Bath and Tennis Club and the Oak Brook Polo Club. She became the first woman member of the United States Polo Association, organized the USPA Polo Pony Championship, and helped establish its rules and registry. Her equestrian legacy also included coaching the Rolex/Abercrombie & Kent Polo Team and owning and operating horse-breeding ranches in Montana and South Carolina.
A gifted photographer, Jorie founded International Geographic Images in 1986, creating a commercial slide bank that reflected her keen eye for place, wildlife, and culture.
Her civic and professional service was extensive. She served as a trustee of the Indian River County Environmental Learning Center in Vero Beach, Florida, and sat on the Advisory Board of the International Center for Tropical Ecology in St. Louis. She also contributed to the Environment Committee of the American Society of Travel Agents and was a founding director of Green Globe and the World Travel and Tourism Ecological Research Center. Jorie was a member of The Explorers Club in New York and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in London.
Above all, Jorie Butler Kent lived with purpose and integrity, leaving a legacy that bridged business, sport, art, and conservation. She is survived by her daughter, Reute Butler, a published photographer and President of Friends of Conservation, who continues her mother’s commitment to protecting the natural world.
Her life stands as a testament to what can be achieved when curiosity, discipline, and respect for people and planet guide one’s path.
