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March 6, 2013
Services
A celebration of her life is planned at Connecticut College on June 1, 2013.
Hildegard Meili Van Deusen of Wayne, New Jersey and Siasconset, Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, died on March 06, 2013, of complications following a stroke. She was 91 years old.
Hildegard, or Hildy as she was known to her many friends, attended Eastside High School in Paterson. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1943 from Connecticut College. She was a researcher for Life magazine, and wrote for the Journal of Medical Economics. She finished her journalism career as Editor of The Forum, the magazine of Al-Anon, the organization supporting the families and friends of alcoholics.
A highlight of her professional career was working with H.R.H. Edward, the Duke of Windsor, on his memoirs, "A King’s Story". She spent a year in London and Paris conducting research for both the Duke and Duchess. In his Author’s Note to the memoirs, the Duke wrote that he owed Hildegard a special debt “For research and for keeping me straight on innumerable factual details.” The Duke joked that Hildegard knew more about coronations than he did since her responsibilities included researching coronations for the book. During the post-War period she was involved with speeches for both General Eisenhower and General MacArthur.
Hildegard served on the Board of Al-Anon for many years. She was an inspiration to Al-Anon members and traveled throughout the United States giving talks. Members called her regularly seeking her advice, and Hildegard was always generous with her time, giving great comfort and counsel.
In 1979, she met John G. Van Deusen, the love of her life, and they were married on March 28, 1981. Asked the secret to their very happy second marriage, Hildegard recently said, “Respect.” Judging from their laughter and obvious delight in each other, humor also played a role in their deep love. They enjoyed adventure and traveled round the world -- joining camera safaris in Africa, scuba diving in the Bahamas, and trekking in Nepal and New Zealand. Other trips included the polar bears and ice north of Spitzbergen, the Torres del Paine in Patagonia as well as both the Far and Middle East. A talented photographer always ready with her camera, Hildegard was oblivious to danger, edging close to wildlife and leaning far over the water to capture the moment. John hung on to her.
They spent their summers in Nantucket, where they had many good friends, played golf and Hildegard, who loved the ocean, swam almost daily. She formed the nine-holers’ group at Sankaty Head Golf Club, where she and John were members. Hildegard said getting a new set of golf clubs for her 90th birthday was the best present ever and she used them proudly. The couple welcomed family and friends all summer, cooking sensational meals. At their New Jersey home, she enjoyed reading and the friends in her two book groups. Computers she did not like.
Hildegard loved children and they were drawn to her gentleness, warmth and kindness. She was always ready to play a game, find a treasure, or frost a cake with them. Her daughter and three step-daughters treasured the albums of family photographs that she gave them each Christmas. She basked in the company of eight grandchildren and delighted in the birth of her two great grandchildren
Hildegard was a member of the Alumni Board of Connecticut College, and she served as class agent for the Annual Fund for many years, assisted with the alumni magazine, and was her class president. She was looking forward to receiving the Alumni Tribute Award, which honors alumni for sustained and extraordinary service to the College. Her family plans to accept this award on her behalf in June. Capturing in words what everyone who knew Hildegard felt, Bridget McShane, director of the Connecticut College Alumni Office wrote, “I speak for everyone when I say that she made all of our lives better just having known her. She is a gift; a treasure to all of us.”
Vivacious, beautiful, and filled with laughter, Hildegard had a gift for making people feel instantly at ease and she had many dear friends. Her family adored her and celebrates her life despite our deep sadness.
Hildegard is survived by her husband John Van Deusen, her daughter Alison Baetzel and Monte Pappas of Richmond, VT, her sister Krin Anderton of Mahwah, NJ, her brother Jay Meili and his wife Carol, of Milwaukee, WI, her step-daughters, Anne Reilly and her husband James of Hoboken, NJ, Margaret Van Deusen and her husband James Doyle of Brookline, MA, Isabel Landzert and her husband Bart of Mooresville, NC, her grandchildren: Sarah Heinemann, Christine Parker, Michael Baetzel , Erica Baetzel Nichols , Thomas and Isabel Landzert, Nick and Libby Doyle, and her great grandchildren Ryan and Grayson Nichols.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
A celebration of her life is planned at Connecticut College on June 1, 2013.
March 6, 2013
Services
A celebration of her life is planned at Connecticut College on June 1, 2013.
Hildegard Meili Van Deusen of Wayne, New Jersey and Siasconset, Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, died on March 06, 2013, of complications following a stroke. She was 91 years old.
Hildegard, or Hildy as she was known to her many friends, attended Eastside High School in Paterson. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1943 from Connecticut College. She was a researcher for Life magazine, and wrote for the Journal of Medical Economics. She finished her journalism career as Editor of The Forum, the magazine of Al-Anon, the organization supporting the families and friends of alcoholics.
A highlight of her professional career was working with H.R.H. Edward, the Duke of Windsor, on his memoirs, "A King’s Story". She spent a year in London and Paris conducting research for both the Duke and Duchess. In his Author’s Note to the memoirs, the Duke wrote that he owed Hildegard a special debt “For research and for keeping me straight on innumerable factual details.” The Duke joked that Hildegard knew more about coronations than he did since her responsibilities included researching coronations for the book. During the post-War period she was involved with speeches for both General Eisenhower and General MacArthur.
Hildegard served on the Board of Al-Anon for many years. She was an inspiration to Al-Anon members and traveled throughout the United States giving talks. Members called her regularly seeking her advice, and Hildegard was always generous with her time, giving great comfort and counsel.
In 1979, she met John G. Van Deusen, the love of her life, and they were married on March 28, 1981. Asked the secret to their very happy second marriage, Hildegard recently said, “Respect.” Judging from their laughter and obvious delight in each other, humor also played a role in their deep love. They enjoyed adventure and traveled round the world -- joining camera safaris in Africa, scuba diving in the Bahamas, and trekking in Nepal and New Zealand. Other trips included the polar bears and ice north of Spitzbergen, the Torres del Paine in Patagonia as well as both the Far and Middle East. A talented photographer always ready with her camera, Hildegard was oblivious to danger, edging close to wildlife and leaning far over the water to capture the moment. John hung on to her.
They spent their summers in Nantucket, where they had many good friends, played golf and Hildegard, who loved the ocean, swam almost daily. She formed the nine-holers’ group at Sankaty Head Golf Club, where she and John were members. Hildegard said getting a new set of golf clubs for her 90th birthday was the best present ever and she used them proudly. The couple welcomed family and friends all summer, cooking sensational meals. At their New Jersey home, she enjoyed reading and the friends in her two book groups. Computers she did not like.
Hildegard loved children and they were drawn to her gentleness, warmth and kindness. She was always ready to play a game, find a treasure, or frost a cake with them. Her daughter and three step-daughters treasured the albums of family photographs that she gave them each Christmas. She basked in the company of eight grandchildren and delighted in the birth of her two great grandchildren
Hildegard was a member of the Alumni Board of Connecticut College, and she served as class agent for the Annual Fund for many years, assisted with the alumni magazine, and was her class president. She was looking forward to receiving the Alumni Tribute Award, which honors alumni for sustained and extraordinary service to the College. Her family plans to accept this award on her behalf in June. Capturing in words what everyone who knew Hildegard felt, Bridget McShane, director of the Connecticut College Alumni Office wrote, “I speak for everyone when I say that she made all of our lives better just having known her. She is a gift; a treasure to all of us.”
Vivacious, beautiful, and filled with laughter, Hildegard had a gift for making people feel instantly at ease and she had many dear friends. Her family adored her and celebrates her life despite our deep sadness.
Hildegard is survived by her husband John Van Deusen, her daughter Alison Baetzel and Monte Pappas of Richmond, VT, her sister Krin Anderton of Mahwah, NJ, her brother Jay Meili and his wife Carol, of Milwaukee, WI, her step-daughters, Anne Reilly and her husband James of Hoboken, NJ, Margaret Van Deusen and her husband James Doyle of Brookline, MA, Isabel Landzert and her husband Bart of Mooresville, NC, her grandchildren: Sarah Heinemann, Christine Parker, Michael Baetzel , Erica Baetzel Nichols , Thomas and Isabel Landzert, Nick and Libby Doyle, and her great grandchildren Ryan and Grayson Nichols.
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