Pauline Wamsler, the youngest of five girls, was born in Bavaria, near Munich, to a German father and American mother. Raised in Germany until she was a teen, Wamsler attended high school in New Hampshire and then went on to Cornell University’s Hotel School. Upon graduation, she worked in hotel acquisition and real estate finance. About 20 years ago, she moved to Sarasota from New York, which she always thought of as a second home. “Even when I lived in Germany as a child, my family vacationed here in Sarasota,” she shares. “My sisters and I have kept the family vacation property at the beach, and this is where we continue to host gatherings for family members living in New York and Europe.”

A local environmentalist, Wamsler credits her upbringing for her passion about nature and the environment. “I spent a lot of time outdoors as a child, whether hiking, skiing or just passing time in botanical gardens,” she recalls. “My mother was a passionate gardener, and her love of plants is something I definitely inherited from her.” When she moved to Sarasota, Wamsler became heavily involved in a number of conservation projects through the Conservation Foundation, which she helped start. “We spent a great deal of time and energy on projects devoted to preserving wetlands, coastline and other environmentally sensitive areas in our area and beyond. Initiating these projects required a great deal of money as well and through the Conservation Foundation, we raised considerable sums of money, both private and public, and developed a wide range of diverse and creative partnerships, all with an eye toward protecting our environment.”

Wamsler has been recognized for serving on many boards including The Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Some of her involvement grew out of her interests in environmental causes and her relationship with the Conservation Foundation. She had developed a reputation for helping to transform what was essentially a startup charitable organization into a major player in environmental causes. “Charitable organizations are often eager to have folks who know how to raise money on their teams, and that is certainly part of it,” she says. “Selby was a natural fit for me. My mother had served on the New York Botanical Garden board, and loved botanical gardens. As for Gulf Coast, that was a natural fit as well, given my other activities in the community, but also because of my experience in finance.” If she had to identify a particular skill that is helpful in these settings, she says it would be in the area of board governance. She believes that Sarasota has a strong, impressive number of charitable organizations with great boards, including people with diverse backgrounds and interests and that board governance translates directly into effective organizational management. “My board colleagues view me, I like to think, not only as someone who can help get things done, but also as someone who can build a consensus within a board. Sometimes that requires changes in a way a board operates or governs itself and I have a lot of experience in that department,” she explains.

In addition to her parents, Wamsler talks about her great-great-grandmother, Bertha Palmer, who she has noted to be her inspiration. “Bertha Palmer is an impressive and larger than life persona, with a remarkable life story,” she shares. “She was a community leader, a renowned art collector, a rancher, a gardener and an avid champion of women’s empowerment.  Many of my family members in different ways are of course inspired by her.”

A philanthropic spirit, Wamsler believes, is incumbent on all of us, especially with the opportunity to do so, to work hard at making our community and our world more desirable, secure and just. Through the Conservation Foundation and Selby, that has meant preserving and improving our surroundings, our environment and public spaces. Through the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, that has meant projects with a genuine impact on the community, like those directed at affordable housing, food security, mental health, disaster relief and the arts. She is especially proud of the work she was part of at Selby Gardens. “I served for nine years on the Selby board, and board chair for two years. I was also a co-chair of the capital campaign which played a major role in the recent transformation of Selby. Being a part of that process, and witnessing everything from the groundbreaking to the ribbon cutting earlier this year for Phase I of Selby’s master plan was very rewarding for all of us devoted to Selby.”

Our community is home to many wonderful organizations and Wamsler encourages anyone wanting to donate their time, talent or treasure to check them out. “There must be at least one which aligns with your interests, or at least one doing something you want to learn more about. If you are new to the community and need help identifying a worthy cause, contact the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, which has great resources to make your search for a worthy cause much easier,” she advises. “The bottom line is, find out what interests you. When you find that organization, show up, volunteer, help. If the organization needs financial support, give and give generously. You will never regret an act of genuine charity.” Being honored and recognized for her efforts is wonderful, Wamsler says, but the feeling of having served the community has been its own reward.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” This quote by motivational speaker, Leo Buscaglia, resonates with Pauline Wamsler and clearly guides her spirit.  Pauline Wamsler was honored as a Good Hero by SRQ Magazine in December 2023.