Nancy Hirth Oravetz

Nancy Hirth Oravetz, age 91, died at home among family on March 1st.

She was born in New Haven, CT on May 6, 1932 to Karl Hirth and Bernice Chittenden Hirth, descendant of William Chittenden, one of the founders of Guilford, CT. She graduated from Prospect Hill School (Hopkins School) and Smith College, AB Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa.

She began her career as a research editor at Reader’s Digest, before moving into medical editing where she worked for a variety of companies as copy editor, then managing editor, and finally senior project editor.

She was a member of the United Church of Rowayton. She served on the Rowayton Civic Association as chairman of the Summer Arts Festival and as a member of the founding group of Sunday Afternoon in Pinkney Park and the River Ramble. As a woman of wide-ranging interests, she was involved in many community activities and was a strong advocate for special needs persons, coastal wetlands, and the arts.

She was predeceased by her husband James, and is survived by her daughter Dana, son David, and sister and brother-in-law Susan and Charles Wanner.

She will be interred with her husband at the historic North Guilford Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Our Vision c/o Robert Schroeder, Treasurer, 21 Vineyard Lane, Westport, CT 06880 and to the STAR Foundation Inc., 182 Wolfpit Ave., Norwalk, CT 06852. Funeral arrangements were handled by Trinity Cremation Services, Stamford, CT.