Edwinna Vanderzanden ... former nurse who became lawyer; at 77

ROCHESTER - Edwinna Creswick Vanderzanden, 77, of Rochester, died on Dec. 5, 2023.

Born Oct. 4, 1946, in Long Branch, N.J., a daughter of Edwin R. and Bernice Kip Creswick. Edwinna attended Northern Valley Regional High School, in Harrington Park, N.J., and graduated magna cum laude from the Hackensack Hospital School of Nursing in 1968. She completed training as a pediatric nurse practitioner at Northeastern University, Boston, while serving with the Director of Pediatrics at the Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center in Roxbury Mass. After moving to New Hampshire, she helped establish the Stafford County Maternal and Infant Care Clinic, which eventually grew into the Avis Goodwin Health Center. She obtained Bachelor of Science in Nursing, cum laude, from the University of New Hampshire School of Nursing in 1980.

Following her childhood career dreams, she received her Juris Doctor from the University of Maine Law School, Portland, Maine in 1984. She actively practiced as a trial lawyer in the areas of professional negligence defense and employment law until September 2023. She was a barrister with the American Inns of Court for many years as well as a fellow of the New Hampshire Bar Foundation.

Edwinna served on the UNH Alumni Board for 8 years, including 2 years as president of the Alumni Association. She led the board during an interim-executive-director period and gave the new director invaluable support during his first year. She was instrumental in establishing the UNH Magazine, was credited with developing a major revision to the association's bylaws, creating the single slate ballot for directors, and expanding the board to represent UNH Manchester, the Parents Association, and the Graduate School.

She was a recipient of the Alumni Meritorious Service Award from UNH as well as an outstanding alumna of the UNH School of Nursing, where she lectured for a number of years in the field of legal issues in nursing. She was appointed to the University System Board of Trustees in July 2005 and served for 8 years, including 2 years as the Board's secretary.

She served as a director of the NH Foundation for Medical Care from 1984-1994 as well as on the boards of three visiting nurse associations. She was a director of the Dover Visiting Nurses and the Trustees of The MUSIC Hall of Portsmouth. She was instrumental in preserving The MUSIC Hall, a landmark 1878 Victorian theater. She actively supported the Rochester Opera House and participated in Rochester's Heritage Music Festival.

Dedicated to preserving open spaces, she worked tirelessly to support land conservation efforts in New England and led the effort to preserve farmland along the Salmon Falls River. She participated in supported organizations such as the Wentworth Hunt, Salmon Falls Friends of Music, the Nature Conservancy, and the National Audubon Society.

Edwinna is survived by her husband of 59 years, Andre H. Vanderzanden and their daughters, Danielle Y. Vanderzanden of Exeter, and Jacqueline Vanderzanden Roland of Southampton, Mass.; Danielle's husband Peter Thurston, their daughter Jodi, and Peter's sons, Andrew and Michael; Jacqueline's husband, Matthew P. Roland, and their children Benjamin and Rachel; one sister, Janet Bernice Creswick of Silver Spring, Md.; four siblings-in-law, Barbara Vanderzanden and her wife Janice Beckwermert, of Norway, Maine, and Michael Vanderzanden and his wife Karen of Danielsville, Pa.; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Edwinna and Andre had many grandchildren. She loved her antique home and farm, travel, symphonic and opera music, horseback riding, tennis, and spending time on boats. She was a dedicated Democrat who volunteered for numerous gubernatorial and presidential candidates, and she loved to provide housing and meals for out of state volunteers during the presidential primaries. She was a relentlessly loyal, generous, and devoted friend who was always eager to lend a helping hand.