OBITUARIES - Obituary

Camping Magazine, Sept-Oct, 2001

Howe -- a Camp Pioneer

Ruth T. Howe, age 94, camp owner/director, died July 27, 2001, in Fresno, California. Born in Seattle, April 5, 1907, Howe is survived by son John T. Howe (Sue) (1905 Milano Way, Mountain View, California, 94040), daughter Marian Howe Herndon (Russ) (2706 W. Ashlan, #316, Fresno, California, 93705), seven grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, one great-great grandson, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by husband, John Wendell Howe.

In 1932, she married John Wendell Howe. She and her husband founded Skylake Camp for Boys at Lake Tahoe in 1945. The camp became coed in 1954. In 1960, the camp was moved to Bass Lake and became Skylake Yosemite Camp. In 1966, they founded Skylake Ranch Camp at Ahwahnee. The camps were owned by the Howe Family for fifty years. She was active in the American Camping Association and the Western Association of Independent Camps serving as the president in 1966 - 1968.

Howe loved to write. She wrote poetry and had many poems published. She also had a book published at age 86. It was titled "Nothing to do all Winter" with stories about campers and staff experiencing camp.

Private family services were planned. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the J. Wendell and Ruth Howe Endowment of the American Camping Foundation, 5000 State Road 67 North, Martinsville, Indiana, 46151-7901. (Checks should be written to the Foundation.) The memorial fund is used for The Golden Quill and Golden Lens awards for stories, articles, and photos that depict the camp experience.

Sobel - Mentor to Many

Jesse "Doc" Sobel, owner/director of Camp Winaukee since 1935, died in June. He was known for his exceptional leadership in the camp field and is remembered as a mentor to countless staff and campers.

Shapiro - Devoted Camp Leader

Edwin Shapiro, former American Camping Association (ACA) national board member, passed away in June. Shapiro's legacy of camp leadership and humanitarianism was evident through his stewardship in many service organizations. He served as president of the Association of Private Camps, and he initiated the partnership between the Association of Independent Camps and ACA. He was appointed president of the ACA New York Section.

As president of the Immigrant Aid Society, Shapiro strengthened efforts to provide services to support Jewish people resettling in other countries. In 1979, he was a member of the American delegation in Geneva that addressed the Indochinese refugee crisis. He was chairman of the B'nai B'rith Hillel commission and chairman of the executive committee of the New York Association of New Americans.

Littlefield - Camp Cofounder

Lillian Stacy Pierce Littlefield, cofounder of Robin Hood Camp, passed away in July. She was 100 years old. She along with her husband, Frederick Littlefield, cofounded Robin Hood Camp in Brooksfield, Maine.