Ethel Leh

Ethel M. Leh of Chestertown, Md. formerly of Chatham Township, N.J. died on June 11, 2001 at Heron Point in Chestertown. She was 88. Born in Philadelphia, Pa. on Feb. 14. 1913, she was the daughter of the late John F. and Anna F. Hurlbrink Leh. She was predeceased by her sister Freda M. Leh. She is survived by one sister Eleanor C. Leh of Chestertown, Md. When Miss Leh was a small child her family moved to Collingdale, Pa. where she received her early education in the Collingdale Pa. school system, from which she graduated with honors. After graduating from high school she earned a B.S. degree in Home Economics from Drexel University Philadelphia, Pa. and a M.A. in Personnel Administration from Columbia University in New York City. She also earned doctoral credits from New York University. After graduating from Drexel University, Miss Leh taught for several years in the Wildwood, N.J. school system. She later accepted a position in the South Orange-Maplewood N.J. school system, where she taught until she retired. At the time Miss Leh retired from teaching, she was Chairman of the Home Economics Department in the South Orange-Maplewood N.J. school system. During the course of her career she was honored many times. She was a Past President of the New Jersey Home Economics Association. In 1959 she was honored by Vogue Magazine in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the teaching profession and for her dedication and involvement in community service. In 1961 Seventeen Magazine saluted Miss Leh as one of Americas outstanding Homemaking Teachers of the year. Her entry, “Fashion Focus”, was one of the top ten entries, which were submitted from every state in the U.S. One of the highlights of Miss Leh’s career was in 1963 when she was selected to be a member of a 29-day tour to Vienna, Moscow, Leningrad, Helsinki, Stockholm, and Copenhagen. The tour was designed to study “Family Life Abroad” and arranged to tie in with the 10th International Congress of Home Economists in Paris. This group was the first group of home economists to visit behind the iron curtain. The trip was unique in that it was especially planned for the group and based on professional interests of Home Economists to give an insight into basic differences in social systems and their effect on home and family life. In each country the United States ambassador and his or her aides at the American Embassy briefed them. They met the leading members of the important Women’s Associations of the various countries to discuss common problems and enjoyed typical refreshments of the area. This included an interesting panel meeting with the Soviet Women’s Committee in their clubhouse in Moscow. In each country they visited nursery schools, parks, stores, restaurants, home information centers and research laboratories. In her retirement, Miss Leh found the fulfillment of her lifetime interest in archaeology. After hearing a lecture by Dr. Robert Bull, Director of the New Jersey Archaeology Museum at Drew University in Madison, N.J. she volunteered to help assemble material from several previous “digs”. In 1978, as a result of this association she became a member of the archaeological “dig” Dr. Bull was directing in the Roman Port City of Caesarea Maritima an ancient city situated halfway between the modern ports of Haifa and Tel Aviv on the coast of Israel. Miss Leh was a community volunteer on a team from Drew University working with approximately 200 scientists, scholars, students, and buffs from a consortium of organizations and colleges throughout the United States and Canada under the direction of Dr. Robert J. Bull. Caesarea was unique in that it was a New City, planned and built by Herod on a new site at the beginning of the Christian era. It was King Herod’s capital, the principal Roman Port in the Eastern Mediterranean and Palestine’s seat of government for 600 years. The joint expeditions to Caesarea Maritima were authorized by the American Schools of Oriental Research and licensed by the Department of Antiquities of the State of Israel and had been under the direction of Dr. Bull since 1971. During these expeditions there were many exciting and important discoveries. Probably the most exciting breakthrough to that time was the discovery of the location of Caesarea’s Cardo-Maximus, the main North –South thoroughfare that led from the theater in the southern section of the City to the forum east of the harbor. The growing interest in the exploration at Caesarea resulted in the establishment of the New Jersey Museum of Archaeology at Drew University, Madison, N.J. in March of 1980. It was the first museum in New Jersey devoted entirely to Archaeology. Miss Leh served for several years as a trustee of that museum. Travel for Miss Leh was a life-long passion and has taken her to all seven continents, most of the larger islands, all states of the United States and several provinces of Canada. She shared these experiences with many friends and various small and large groups by presenting slide shows at lectures for many organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis, schools, church groups, etc… She was always active in community affairs and held offices of leadership in most. In Chestertown she was a member of the Historical Society of Kent County, the Kent County Heritage Trust, the Women’s League of Washington College, the friends of Miller Library, Mid-Shore Symphony Society, Kent and Queen Anne’s Hospital Foundation, Chester River Association, and Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Before moving to Chestertown she she served as a Deacon at both the First Presbyterian and Trinity Church in South Orange, N.J. and the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township, N.J. While residing in Chestertown she attended Chestertown Presbyterian Church. During World War II Miss Leh was an active volunteer in the Red Cross Motor Corps. Graveside services will be held privately. There will be a memorial service at Wesley Hall, Heron Point Chestertown, Md. on Thursday June 21,2001 at 3:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Heron Point Benevolent Fund or F & R Moore Scholarship Fund Heron Point Chestertown, MD 21620. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home Chestertown, Md.