THERESE J. RIED

RIED--Therese J., beloved wife of Horace J. Ried, died in her hometown of Stamford Connecticut on August 17, 2011, at the age of 75, with her family around her. She is survived by her children, Carl and his sons Matthew and Alexander, Gillian and her son Christopher, and Lucas and his wife Marnie, and their two children, Jake and Mackenzie. She is survived as well by her step children, Joshua, Amanda and her sons Zachary and Cooper, and by Adam. Additionally, she is survived by her half-sister, Heidi Grondal. Heidi is the wife of Benedikt Grondal, (2010) one-time Prime Minister of Iceland. Therese, known more familiarly as Tessa, was the adored daughter of Ruth Heinitz Jaeger and Dr. Werner Wilhelm Jaeger. Dr. Jaeger, a University Professor of Philosophy and Classics at Harvard University, was the author of many influential works including the renowned, two-volume "Padeia, Ideals of Greek Culture." Born in Berlin, Germany in 1935, Tessa and her parents moved to the United States to escape Nazi persecution in 1938. Tessa was a graduate of The Buckingham School (1952), Radcliffe College (BA 1956) and Yale University (MA 1957). With her master‘s degree in Linguistics, she was fluent in many languages, including French, German, Italian, Spanish, Ancient Greek and Latin. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She married for the second time in 1978, to the love of her life, Horace John Ried, of Stamford, Connecticut. Ried, Advertising Director for the publication "Plastics Engineering" for 25 years, passed away in 2002. They were a couple truly meant for one another in every way, and their love was an inspiration to all who knew them. Tessa, who spent her later years working as an environmental activist and wildlife rehabilitator, had a long career of public service, including positions as Assistant Director of the Meridian House Foundation (a half-way house for the mentally ill in Stamford, CT) from 1977-1981, Assistant Director of "Gateway Communities, Inc," (a half-way house for alcoholics in Stamford, CT) from 1985-1990, and Director of Publishing at "The Volunteer Center of Fairfield County," from 1990-1999. Tessa's volunteer work began early, when she worked as an EMT for the Stamford Ambulance Corps (1972-1973) Later, She was the organizer of the environmental activist group "Save Our Swans" (1990) and Founder of "The Rippowam River Neighbors Association" (1996) as well as being a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for the State of Connecticut (2000). In addition to her extensive career, Tessa was an avid gardener, photographer, reader, writer and loved animals. A graveside service for family will be held Wednesday, August 24th, at the Union Cemetery in Stamford, CT, where Tessa will be buried next to her true love, Hal Ried. She was an extraordinary person, and is sorely missed.