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- Obituary:
Slingerlands -- Virginia R. Rich, died Sunday, February 19, 2017. Born Virginia Mae Remington in Chicago, Illinois, November 23, 1925 to John Wanamaker and Nellie Tooth Remington.
As an infant, with family in tow, Virginia moved to Brooklyn. Street smart and loving life in the Big City, she always said she was a Brooklyn girl.
In '37, during the depression, the family moved, upstate, to Adams Place, Delmar, NY. Virginia attended Bethlehem Central where she graduated in '43. One of her neighbors, back in the day, was Eva Marie Saint.
After graduation, Virginia worked for the Argus and the Greenwood printing companies, Albany and learned the technique of airbrush. Her true calling was pen and ink and she was incredibly gifted in putting pen to paper.
In June '44 she married the dream of her life, Lieutenant Lowell Henry Rich Jr., at St. Paul's Church, Albany. Then set out, with her husband, to reside in Texas at Midland Army Airfield, till the war ended.
Returning to Delmar, in '51Virginia and Lowell found the perfect property where they would design and build their home, naming it "Richwood Acres". Virginia did the architectural plans and Lowell, built their home.
Virginia loved to travel. In childhood there were the weekend trips and one to Canada to see the Dion Quintuplets. She thought that was the best.
In her adult life she traveled throughout Europe visiting the world renown art museums. She traveled to China in the late '70's, when China opened it's borders. With pencil and paper in hand she captured the wondrous sights and culture of an Asian nation. Upon return, she submitted her story along with her artwork, to the "National Observer", which they printed.
As well as her worldly trips, Lowell and Virginia flew the eastern seaboard in their Cessna. Mom claims, on one flight, she looked out the side window and there was the Red Baron, flying with them in tandem.
Virginia was sought after for her gifted ability as a graphic artist, executing house portraits numbering into the hundreds. Local commissions included, Chemical Bank-Eastern, N.A., Cohoes, Bellevue Hospital, St. John's Church, Cohoes, and many more.
Commissioned by Hudson Valley Community College, Troy. Virginia created a 6' by 12' Mural titled "Hudson Valley Heritage" installed in the lobby of Gunther Hall, "Symbolizing the past, present and future of education in the Hudson Valley" Her quote taken from the Kickerbocker News.
One of her final projects and dearest to her heart, were pen and inks documenting life in the tri-village, entitled "Vanishing America". Back in the '70's, many of the buildings at the Four Corners, Delmar were slated to come down,. She captured the moments in her history where she bloomed as a child into womenhood. She had this work put onto a CD, 2012, which you can find on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uczOZIfEmCs or madmatty 123 Vanishing America.
Virginia Remington Rich never let the grass grow under her feet. She set off running and she never looked back. Friends both young and old were always in touch, just to see what Virginia was up to. Born with grace and dignity. A natural beauty with her platinum hair and those big baby blues.
Side notes: She could sing, dance, whistle, tap dance,, played tennis till 80, roller skated, shot a gun, fished, skied and played golf. Directed Sammy Kaye's Orchestra at the Palace Theater, '43. Was in the first Tulip Queen Pageant. A Girl Scout and then a Girl Scout leader and a life long member of the Bethlehem Art Association, which she was honored at during their 50th Celebration, November 2016.
Lowell Henry Rich, Jr. deceased, married 57 years to Virginia. Daughters: Pamela Rich and David Amari, Dover NH. Gretchen Remington Rich deceased and Daniel Paul Fenno, Epping NH. Grand Children: Bradley Rich Amari, Dover NH. Jonathan David and Christa Amari, McKees Rocks PA. Great Grand Baby: Owynn Bradley Amari. Brother: James "Jimmy" Asa Remington, Richmond, Virginia. Five nieces and nephews and ten great nieces and nephews.
To all the gentle souls that helped my mother through this stage of her life, can never say thank you enough.
In lieu of donations or flowers, just put on a big toothy grin. Hug someone you adore and have a hearty chat over a cup of tea.
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1925 - 2017 (91 years)
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