Theresa J. Ried

She is survived by her children, Carl and his two 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 stepchildren, Joshua, Amanda and her two sons Zachary and Cooper and by Adam. Additionally, she is survived by her half-sister, Heidi Grondal. Heidi is the wife of Benedikt Grondal, (d. 2010) one-time Prime Minister of Iceland. She was cherished Aunt to the Grondal’s three children,Tom,Jon,and Einar.

Therese, known more familiarly as Tessa, was the adored daughter of Werner Wilhelm Jaeger, a University Professor of Philosophy and Classics at Harvard University. Jaeger was the author of many influential works including the renowned two-volume work, “Padeia, Ideals of Greek Culture” Tessa was the daughter of Ruth Heinitz Jaeger, who taught Latin at the prestigious Milton Academy (Milton MA) for many years and was an accomplished pianist and teacher as well as co-founder of the New School of Music in Cambridge, MA.

Born in Berlin, Germany in 1935, Tessa and her parents moved to the United States to escape Nazi persecution in 1938. She spent her childhood primarily in Cambridge, MA, and summers in Lake Bomoseen, VT.

Tessa was a graduate of The Buckingham School (1952), Radcliffe College (B.A. 1956) and Yale University (M.A. 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.

After her education, Tessa moved to New York City to work in the editorial, marketing and publishing industry, primarily for Oxford University Press.

She married Dr. Robert Samuel Byck in1963 and served as Copy Editor for Dr. Byck’s important book, “The Cocaine Papers” (1975). The marriage ended in 1976.

She remarried in 1978, to the love of her life, Horace John Ried, of Stamford, Connecticut. Horace (Hal) Ried, worked for 25 years as Director of Advertising at the publication “Plastic’s Engineering” and passed away in 2002 with Tessa at his bedside. 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, Secretary to the Meridian House Board of Directors, 1976-1977, Publishing Director at “Taxwise Giving” of Old Greenwich Connecticut from 1981-1984, 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.

While working at the Volunteer Center, Tessa authored “Why WE Need You.” (1992) and was the recipient of many prestigious national and state grants, as well as the author of a successful application for State bond monies for a new halfway house for persons recovering from psychiatric hospitalization. She was also a pilot program grantee for AmeriCorps.

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 - ) She was active in other local environmental politics … particularly around issues relating to keeping the Stamford, CT rivers and waterways clean and properly protected.

In addition to her extensive career, Tessa was an avid gardener, animal owner, photographer reader and writer. Perhaps closest to her heart, Tessa wrote “Where is Tomorrow” (1990) a photographic and poetic children‘s book about life, death and change based on the experiences she and her husband shared watching swans and other wildlife while living in their summer home in Matunuk, Rhode Island. The house sits on the edge of a pond and the ocean, and is home to many forms of wildlife, including a pair of Swans, seabirds, and other creatures. Her children and grandchildren enjoy it to this day.

A Graveside Service for family will be held Wednesday, August 24th, at the Long Ridge 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. to place on line condolences, please visit www.boutonreynoldsfuneralhome.com