IDA H. WALLACE

IDA HARVEY WALLACE  

1921-2012  

Ida Harvey Wallace, founder/director of the Independent Colleges Office in Washington, DC, died May 6, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA. She was born August 5, 1921 in Huntington, West Virginia, the third child of Helen Brandebury Harvey and Thomas William Harvey. After graduating from Oberlin College, she worked in Washington for the Army Map Service during World War II and later in New York City as a researcher for Newsweek. She married Kenneth Wallace in 1947 and became an activist stay-at-home mother to her two daughters in Port Washington, NY. She volunteered for many organizations and served as president of the PTA and of a chapter of the League of Women Voters. Her marriage ended in divorce and she moved to Bethesda, Maryland, re-entering the workforce, first with the State Universities of New York Washington office. Soon after, she opened the Washington office for the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, representing, as she said, "small excellent liberal arts colleges" including her own alma mater, providing grant advice and support As the office grew to serve colleges nationally, it became the Independent Colleges Office. In addition to being a respected professional, she was a celebrated hostess, artist, traveler and gardener. She retired in 1988. Her second marriage to Loren Pope ended in divorce.

She is survived by her two daughters, Ann Wallace of Los Angeles and Jane Wallace of Seattle. A memorial service will be scheduled later this year.