Saturday, January 25, 2025 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am EST
Writing History: An Obituary Workshop
One of the tasks often left to survivors of a beloved family member has traditionally been writing an obituary, a record to inform the community of a death. At the Ridgefield Historical Society, we see these vital pieces of our town’s history, and we are offering some pre-planning help in January.
Until late in the 20th Century, obituaries were formal, often very stylized, submitted by a funeral director. But in Jack Sanders’ nearly half century as editor of The Ridgefield Press, obituaries were seen as news and one of the most-read sections of the weekly newspaper.
Many obituaries are now published online, rather than in print, but each one can still be a mini-history of a life and, in years to come, a historical reference. Obituaries are a prime source of information for genealogical and historical researchers.
To make sure that your story is told accurately, and to relieve family members of the burden of researching hazy memories of events and accomplishments, Sanders recommends writing your own obituary now and giving it to family members – just in case it should be needed. And someday, it will.
Mr. Sanders will teach a class in obituary writing at the Ridgefield Historical Society on Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. This unique workshop offers participants a rare opportunity to learn the nuances of obituary writing from a master journalist, historian and storyteller whose decades of experience and insights will ensure that your story is told with care, respect, and lasting impact. As part of this workshop, all participants will have the opportunity to submit their obituaries to Jack after the class for personalized feedback and one-on-one editing.
The class size is limited to 25, and tickets are expected to sell out quickly. Tickets sales benefit the mission of the Historical Society, are nonrefundable, and are $45 per person for members of the Ridgefield Historical Society and $50 for those who are not yet members. To become a member of the Ridgefield Historical Society sign up here: https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/support-us/membership/
A Fairfield County native and graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, Jack Sanders retired in 2014 after 45 years as an editor of The Ridgefield Press. He’s written a dozen books on Ridgefield history, and also created and administers the “Old Ridgefield” group on Facebook, which has more than 9,000 followers. He and his wife, Sally, a retired newspaper editor who is on the board of the Ridgefield Historical Society, live in a 250-year old farmhouse in Ridgefield.
The snow date for this program is Sat. Feb. 1, 2025, 10-11:30 a.m. For more information contact the Ridgefield Historical Society at [email protected] or 203-438-5821.
