Helen Z. Steinkraus

A Versatile Sportswoman

Helen Ziegler Steinkraus, 81, died peacefully at home, on the evening of April 11, surrounded by her family, after a brief illness. Born in New York, the daughter of Helen Murphy Ziegler and William Ziegler, Jr, Mrs Steinkraus grew up in Noroton and New York City.

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, William C. Steinkraus; three sons, Eric of Sandy Hook; Philip, and his wife Stefanie, of Rhinebeck, N.Y.; and Edward, and his wife Beth, of Darien; and three grandchildren.

She was educated at Nightingale-Bamford School and attended Columbia University and Hunter College before teaching briefly at Brearley. She then worked as a research assistant on the lung cancer studies of Dr Ernst Wynder at the Sloan-Kettering Institute.

Known to many by her nickname Sis, she was an elegant person and a very accomplished and versatile sportswoman. A member of the New York Yacht Club, she raced in Long Island Sound with her brother, William Ziegler III, on their jointly-owned boats, and crewed on races to Bermuda and Hawaii. She skied for many years both at home and abroad, hunted wildfowl and upland birds from the East and South to Mexico, rode with many American foxhound packs as well as several Irish hunts, made two hunting safaris in Africa, and enjoyed snorkeling and tennis.

Mrs Steinkraus took special interest in the ballet and figure skating, and with her interest in medicine, became active in Darien’s Post 53 Ambulance service where she became qualified as an EMT-I. She was also for several years a director of the American Maize-Products Company of Stamford, a lifelong director of the E. Matilda Ziegler Foundation for the Blind, and managed the family estate at Great Island in Noroton until her death.

Mrs Steinkraus was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, and especially enjoyed visiting the horses with her grandchildren.

A private service was held.

Donations in her memory can be made to the US Equestrian Team Foundation, PO Box 355, Gladstone NJ 07934, and Darien EMS-Post 53, PO Box 2066, Darien CT 06820.

The Newtown Bee        April 27, 2012