Pictured:  Moonlight on the River (detail) By Maria Winkler.  

For Effie Yeaw Nature Center's 2013-2014 Educational Programs Catalog, click here.  The Effie Yeaw Nature Center is a community service of ARNHA.

Take Action to Help Improve Red Fox Conservation Efforts, click here.

Carol Doersch, ARNHA co-founder,  writer, editor, fundraiser, donor,   and a key architect in ARNHA's 2010 takeover of the Effie Yeaw Nature Center from the county, died Wednesday, July 18.   
    
Carol, 80, died  at her Carmichael home  with her family at her side after a years long battle against breast and lung cancer.

She  devoted nearly 10,000 hours of service to ARNHA and the nature center. Such service included helping write and edit several ARNHA natural history publications, fundraising for EYNC for such projects as the replica Nisenan Maidu village, and playing a leading role in launching the annual "Painting Where the Wild Things Are" Gala and Art Auction in 2010.

After learning of Carol's passing, EYNC Executive Director Paul TebbelI said "I just walked through the preserve, reflecting on how much Carol did to make this place and all that it offers successful. We were blessed to have her as a friend, a leader, a mentor and, in many ways, our guiding light."

Perhaps Carol's most significant contribution was her role in ARNHA's response to the deficit-ridden county's announcement that it would no longer fund the nature center and invited ARNHA and three other non-profits to submit proposals to take it over. With only three weeks notice, ARNHA alone submitted a bid, a 35-page document packed with details of ARNHA's 29 years of financial and volunteer support prepared by Carol and past president Greg Voelm. Success was assured following a crucial meeting by Carol, Greg, and former County Supervisor Sandy Smoley with interim county executive Steve Szalay.
    
A year later, at the ARNHA annual meeting at which the "Carol Doersch Courtyard" between the main EYNC and Assembly buildings was dedicated, Greg, serving as master of ceremonies, told the assemblage, "If it wasn't for Carol's work, we wouldn't be sitting here today!"
   
EYNC Development Director Betty Cooper affirmed that Carol was an "excellent fundraiser" because she was a greatly respected person involved with many fine organizations in the Sacramento area. "She inspired people with her determination to see the Nature Center succeed, which she had done since 1981 as a founding member of ARNHA," Betty said.  "Carol's grace, intelligence, philanthropy, and good humor earned her so much love and respect in the community that Muriel Johnson and Carol's daughter Ann and son, Todd, were able to raise over $15,000 for the completion and ongoing maintenance of the Carol Doersch courtyard."
   
Carol served as president of ARNHA in 1985-86 and the County Board of Supervisors named her Parks Volunteer of the Year in 1986 and again in 2008.  Besides her yeoman service to ARNHA and EYNC, Carol was an active volunteer over the years for the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Sacramento Pioneer Association, and Sacramento - El Dorado Medical Society Auxiiliary.
    
The great granddaughter of California pioneers, the Sacramento native leaves daughter Ann Doersch of Carmichael and son Todd Doersch of Chicago; daughters-in-law Stephanie Monzon and Ute Doersch, grandchildren Paul Doersch and Krista Doersch, and many dear friends. She was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Kemp B. Doersch, M.D., Sacramento general surgeon.
   
Remembrances in her honor will be deeply appreciated by the Effie Yeaw Nature Center, P.O. Box 579, Carmichael, 95609, and by All Saints Episcopal Church, 2076 Sutterville Road, Sacramento 95818