Eva Seed Auchincloss

1933 - 2025

Eva Seed Auchincloss
07/21/1933 - 11/01/2025
Eva was born in New York City, daughter to Allen Hartley Seed and Eva Matthews Seed. She was the third child of four and the only girl. She attended Northrop Collegiate, Miss Hall's School and Vassar College. Eva was an excellent student, and education was a priority in the Seed household.
Eva married James Stuart Auchincloss and raised her children in Short Hills, NJ. She was very active in her community and notably was the first woman to run for a seat on the Milburn, NJ township council.
Eva's husband, who was the publisher of Schnell Publishing Company, Inc. died suddenly at age 42. As was custom at the time, Eva took his place as publisher and was instrumental in turning the company into a profitable publishing enterprise.
Eva remarried briefly, which moved her family to San Francisco, CA in 1972. It was in San Francisco that she launched into what became her life-long calling of advocating for women's sports. Eva began the journey working for Woman's Sports Magazine. Eva became the founding director of the Women's Sports Foundation, nurturing it from a grassroots endeavor into the international organization it is today. Among other accomplishments during this period, Eva testified in front of Congress for the passage of Title IX (ensuring equal opportunity and funding to women in sports). After the Women's Sports Foundation was solidly established, Eva turned her attention to women's sports marketing as a principal of Auchincloss & Turner, Inc. Later in life, Eva became a vineyard owner with her partner Joseph Mesics, growing and selling their grapes to boutique California winemakers under the label of Timbervine Ranch.
Throughout all, Eva remained active in her community service work and advocacy. Most notably, Eva partnered with Mary Moore Gaines and Glady Thatcher in developing the San Francisco Village, a community non-profit for aging in place. Eva was also a founder and former president of the Presidio Graduate School, an MBA program focused on sustainability, now part of the University of Redlands. Additionally, she was a director of Enterprise For Youth, San Francisco; served on the Mayor's Council for Physical Fitness & Sport; she was a member of House of Delegates for the US Olympic Committee; she was a past president and director of the International Diplomacy Council, San Francisco; founding member of the International Museum of Women; advisory consultant for Boys & Girls Club of America, Girls Inc. & Explorer Scouts; and served on the advisory council of the Salvation Army Rehabilitation Center, San Francisco.
Eva is survived by her two daughters and their partners, Eva Auchincloss Petersen and Greg Petersen of Bridgehampton, NY; Busy Auchincloss Reynolds and Stephen Reynolds of Martha's Vineyard, MA; and her beloved grandchildren: Buck Reynolds & Shea Patrick, along with a great grandson, Beau, Eli Reynolds, Cal Reynolds, Lia Petersen and Mikey Petersen. Eva will also live long in the hearts and minds of all the extended family and friends who lived in her San Francisco home-'Hotel Auchincloss'.