Sad News From Elizabeth Park, CT

15 years ago

Donna Fuss, the leading force in re-establishing Elizabeth Park's Old Garden Rose section & so much else, has passed away at age 63. Donna was also instrumental in saving the Park's entire rose collection from demolition in the 1970s & for making it the national rose treasure that it now is. Her passing is a major loss to the OGR world & she will be very much missed. Rose societies throughout the Northeast are planning memorial observances.

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Comments (16)

emmiegray1
15 years ago
Very sorry to hear this, she was so young too. My condolences..

Andrea
lemecdutex
15 years ago
Sorry to hear that. I've never been to that garden, but the photos you showed of it were stunning, not to mention the sheer number of varieties saved by her efforts.

--Ron
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luanne
15 years ago
It is amazing what one woman can do, God bless her. We need to remember that in these times when it is so easy to feel overwhelmed. My condolences to her family and to all of us.
la
diane_nj 6b/7a
15 years ago
Oh, my! I judged with Donna a couple of times. Such a terrific lady! My sympathies to Mike and their family and to the Connecticut RS.
zeffyrose
15 years ago
I never met this lady but have seen pictures of the garden---

63 is much too young to die.

I feel sad and I don't even know her.

Florence
duchesse_nalabama
15 years ago
I hope one of you all that know her story will write it up and get it into a rose publication. The HRG quarterly comes to mind. We all need to hear the stories of how we can change our communities for the good.

I'm sorry to hear about her death; maybe some good will come of it by telling her story to those of us that don't know her. Gean
ogroser
15 years ago
I only met Donna once perhaps 25 years ago after she had begun working on the garden. She shared an afternoon in it with me going over the research about the various beds and the rambler arches. We shared ideas about some identifications - what fun. It was at that time that I took a few pictures of the arches that she and her friends had restored along with a few other pictures. I still use the rambler arch picture in my discussion of ramblers and how they were used in city rose gardens so long ago. She just bubbled about her plans, how far they had come, but how far they still had to go. I am sure this will move me to make a trip to Elizabeth Park to see where it is today and at the same time take me back to a visit with an inspired woman and her dream for a special rose garden. Best, Nick
carolfm
15 years ago
She sounds like a real dynamo. I'm so sorry to hear of her death. Hopefully the wonderful work she did will be carried on by those who have been inspired by her determination and the beauty she helped create. My sympathy to her family and to all of you who knew her. Thank you for letting us know. I didn't know her but I loved hearing about what she accomplished.

Carol
rosefolly
15 years ago
This is sad news. I'm sorry to hear it. My condolences to her family and her friends.
pfzimmerman
15 years ago
She was a tremendous person and did so much for roses. Our thoughts and prayers to all.

Paul
neroseman
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you for the kind thoughts & I'll try to pass them along. We're still in a state of shock & disbelief up here. Just this spring, Donna & I arranged for a nice new shipment of Pickering OGRs, that were added to the Heritage Rose area at the Park. She seemed to be her usual jovial, upbeat self at the June Rose Show. And she had chaired a meeting of municipal & local authorities about how to best maintain the famous rambler arches. Plus leading all the rose garden tours. In retrospect, she did incredible things & inspired many people. If I may, let me quote from the death notice in the Hartford Courant: "Donna's positive outlook and unmatched optimism were hallmarks of her giving personality. She had a golden heart and was always looking to find the good in life and in others. She made everyone see a brighter side." For Donna, the glass was ALWAYS half full not half empty, as they say.

Dan Russo
diane_nj 6b/7a
15 years ago
For those who haven't had the pleasure, here is a slide show of the rose garden at Elizabeth Park, taken in June, 2007.

Here is a link that might be useful: Elizabeth Park Slide Show
jaxondel
15 years ago
All the accolades being given to Donna Fuss aren't mere hyperbole, they are richly deserved. I've visited the gardens at Elizabeth Park numerous times. Although I knew Donna only in the most casual sense, I'll certainly never forget her.

Donations in Donna's memory may be made to The Friends of Elizabeth Park, PO Box 370361, West Hartford, CT 06137 or The CT Rose Society, c/o Robert Martin, Treas., 1244 Windsor Ave., Windsor, CT 06095. For online condolences, visit www. carmonfuneralhome.com.
lemecdutex
15 years ago
Diane, thanks for posting that slide show. It shows what she was able to save and enhance at Elizabeth Park. It also shows how wonderful climbers/ramblers can be. Nothing quite creates a magical garden like those rambler roses.

--Ron
User
15 years ago
I'm sorry to hera this and thank you for posting that slide show!
Embothrium
15 years ago
Effective people are certainly a marvel to me. I can't even get the mildew out of my bathroom.

Sad News From Elizabeth Park, CT

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Sad News From Elizabeth Park, CT

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