Virginia Louise Fifield

On July 28, 2024 Virginia "Ginny" Louise Fifield lost her long battle against lung cancer. She was at home in Healdsburg, California, a place she cherished and was committed to for many years. Ginny was an active member of many environmental groups including the Sonoma Land Trust, Audubon Canyon Ranch, and the Humane Society of Sonoma County. As a young girl Ginny and her family fostered and raised a mountain lion as well as other animals for the Milwaukee Zoo where she volunteered much of her time. Ginny did extensive work tracking mountain lions in Sonoma County. She was instrumental in setting up the trail camera program at Audubon Canyon Ranch and she worked with Living with Lions collaring and monitoring mountain lions. An article from their December 2023 newsletter, the Sonoma Land Trust said "Ginny brings a lifetime of experience to her work with our staff to document critical wildlife corridors on our preserves. We are so grateful for Ginny's contributions to our efforts to understand and preserve biodiversity in Sonoma County."

Ginny enjoyed many hobbies and recreational pursuits; she loved the outdoors and was an avid hiker. Additionally, she enjoyed open water swimming and was a certified scuba diver. Following in her parents' footsteps, Ginny was a private pilot, earning her license at a young age. Her intellectual curiosity and sense of adventure led her to travel the world extensively.

Ginny was born to Marilyn Kieckhefer Fifield and Thomas B. Fifield in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1954, the youngest of three children. Ginny graduated from Brown University and received her MSW from University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She will be greatly missed by the many friends she maintained throughout her K-12 years at University School of Milwaukee and beyond. Ginny was a wonderful sister to brothers George (deceased 2022) and John (Sandi) of New York City; she leaves many dear friends, beloved cousins, her niece and nephew, Jocie Fifield (Tim Corkum) and Ben Fifield (Yang Yang Zhou), and grand niece and nephew Coco and Leo Fifield.

Contributions in Ginny's memory can be made to Sonoma County Land Trust and Audubon Canyon Ranch.

Published in Healdsburg Tribune · August 27, 2024