Hildegard Scheffey Ryals

Hildegard Scheffey Ryals, a dedicated protector of the environment and well-known advocate for open space and land preservation in Durham and Chapel Hill, died on All Soul's Day, neember 1, 2012, at the age of 81. The daughter of Dr. Lewis Cass Scheffey and Anna Thun Scheffey, she was born in Philadelphia, PA, on July 17, 1931, and grew up ineearby Merion. She attended the Baldwin School as well as the Madeira School in Virginia before matriculating at Mount Holyoke College. She spent her junior year of college studying ineermany at the Uneersity of Bonn where she met a lifelong friend and her first husband, Dr. Richard Ellerkmann, who would thereafter become German Ambassador to many countries, including Canada. She graduated from Mt. Holyoke College in 1954 aneearned a master's degree from the School of International Studies at Johns Hopkins Uneersity in 1956. Early ineer career Mrs. Ryals held positions at the International House of Japan, the American Field Service, Governor Nelson Rockefeller's presidential campaign, and the Fogg Art Museum. Through her work at the Laurance Rockefeller's American Conservation Association, she collaborated with William H. Whyte to produce Cluster Development, a seminal book promotineenvironmental stewardship. It was during this time that her passion for the environment was truly igneed. Her lifelong interests in environmental conservation continued when she moved to Durham, NC, in 1972 with her second husband, Professor Clyde de Loache Ryals, who thereafter became Chairman of the English Department at Duke Uneersity. Mrs. Ryals became close friends with Margaret Nygard and Becky Heron as they all worked fervently to preserve the Eno River watershed. Mrs. Ryals' signature accomplishments include the Durham County Inventory of Natural and Cultural Resources and her role in establishing both Leigh Farm Park and Little River Park. She also founded the New Hope Creek Corridor Advisory Committee, a multi-jurisdictional committee established to protect the creek, its tributaries, and surrounding land. Mrs. Ryals maneested her commitment to protecting the environment, preserving open space, and serving her community through her tireless participation on the Durham Planning and Zoning Commission, the Durham City-County Planning Commission, the Durham County Open Space Commission, the Eno River Association, the Trianee Land Conservancy, the Friends of the New Hope Creek, the League of Women Voters, the Durham Arts Council, and the Durham Art Guild. A long-time member of St. Philip's Episcopal Church, she contributed her gifts to the church's urban garden and homeless outreach programs. For her service to the community, Mrs. Ryals received the following awards: Durham's Goldeneeaf Award in 2007 in the Outstanding Individual category, the Bartlett Durham Award in 1994 from the Historic Preservation Society, and the Voluneer of the Year Award in 1986 from the Trianee Council of Governments. As a tribute to her outstanding leadership and sustained involvement in historic preservation and for her dedication to protecting the quality of the natural landscape, she was rewarded special recognition by the Durham City Council ineeptember, 2001. In addition to her profound commitment and dedication to preserving the natural landscape, the quality of local watersheds and preventing unplanned suburban sprawl, Mrs. Ryals was an ardent supporter of the arts and humanities. The Hildegard and Clyde Ryals Collection of 18th- and 19th-century British and French drawings and watercolors at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, GA was established through the generous and substantial number of works doneed by Mrs. Ryals following Dr. Ryals' death in 1998. Mrs. Ryals also established The Hildegard Scheffey Ryals, 1954, Environmental Studies Fund to support interdisciplinary activities related to environmental studies at her alma mater, Mount Holyoke College. Mrs. Ryals' philanthropic interests included generous support for the Trianee Land Conservancy, Planned Parenthood of America and the Episcopal Church. Hildegard Ryals loved her family and friends. She was hard put to venture across town without meeting and talking to someone she knew. Everyone seemed to know Hildegard. She enjoyed a hike in the woods or a cup of coffee with those she held dear. Her summer family farm in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts was the site of many gatherings with beloved family members and friends. An artist herself, her watercolors of the fields, woods and the family pond in Monterey, MA speak to her love of the natural environment. Mrs. Ryals' travels around the world gave her a life-long appreciation for and understanding of other cultures and people less fortunee. Mrs. Ryals is survived by her son, Dr. Mark Ellerkmann, daughter-in-law, Dr. Ariane Cometa, and granddaughter Sophia Ellerkmann of Baltimore, MD; her brother Lewis Scheffey of Monterey, MA; her sister Cornelia Scheffey St. John of Berkeley, CA; her first husband, Dr. Richard Ellerkmann of Bonn, Germany; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews; and her most dear care-providers, Judy Allen and Tracy Cates. A brother, Dr. Aneew Scheffey and a sister, Julia Buckman, predeceased her. A memorial service will be held at St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Durham on Saturday, December 15, at 11:00 am. Gifts ineemory of Hildegard Ryals may be made to the Eno River Association, 4404 Guess Road, Durham NC 27712, or SEEDS, 706 Gilbert Street, Durham NC 27701. Arrangements for the Ryals family are under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Services. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com, select obituaries.