ETHEL SERY TRIMMER
Heaven won the lottery last week. On January 14, 2023, 101 years after her birth, Ethel Sery Trimmer, beloved mother and wife, passed away peacefully in her home in Santa Fe, NM. She joined her Savior on a mild sunny winter day in the arms of her son Mark Trimmer with her husband of 61 years, Maurice Trimmer, nearby. She left an indelible mark on the Santa Fe community as well as on the lives she touched in her century-long journey through this life.
Born August 24, 1921 to two Greek immigrants Rhoda and Joachiim Serinides of Brooklyn, NY, she was the third of three children. Her brothers Ted and Bob Sery predeceased her.
Although she came into the world via New York, she was destined to become a western girl. Ethel's fascination with the west and the western heritage captured her early in life. Although her mother lived to see 95, early family incidents had her grow up in an orphanage until she was 16. After high school, she worked for fashion icon and hat maker Lilly Dache. She earned a certificate in drafting at the Pratt Institute of Manhattan, giving her an opportunity in drafting at esteemed warship builders Gibbs and Cox of NY. She was a part of the war effort drafting wiring blueprints for Navy Destroyers during WWII. She never gave up on her cowgirl dream, so she took horseback lessons at a club in NYC. She fulfilled this dream spending summers working on horseback in Colorado, Idaho and New Mexico, fly-fishing the trout rivers of the Rockies, playing her guitar by the fire under a blanket of stars and surrounded by cowboys.
Ethel first came to NM in 1953 to work an American Forestry Association trail ride in the Pecos Wilderness. She was hooked and the next year she packed up her life and said adios to the Big Apple for good. It was there she met her husband Maurice (who shared a similar love at first sight connection to the City Different). They were married July 14, 1961, one day after Maurice's birthday. She wanted him to be one year older before they were married because Maurice... was a bit younger.
Ethel's life was an ongoing adventure. After moving to Santa Fe, she set her sights on learning to ski and dance. She picked up some wooden skis and leather boots and made short work of conquering the slopes above Santa Fe. She joined a local modern dance group and stretched her skills even further. She taught herself piano and guitar. She took classes in Spanish, philosophy, religion and computer science. Ethel took several drafting jobs in Santa Fe, breaking ceilings of glass and misogyny by establishing herself in a man's industry. She took crap from no one. While working for the National Park Service Cultural Division (where she had her longest tenure), she was the oldest employee to learn CAD/CAM computer skills.
Later in life, Ethel was haunted by back troubles. Her doctor pushed for surgery, but she fought that and chose swimming. She went from hardly being able to walk to fully functional. So much so she competed in the Senior Olympics all the way to age 100, earning at least 15 gold medals.
She was very active in First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe, holding volunteer positions for most of the 60 years of her membership.
Ethel is survived by husband Maurice Trimmer, 92 of Santa Fe, and son Mark Trimmer, 60 of Albuquerque, NM. Mark is a financial advisor in Albuquerque, NM. She has two grandchildren, Nicholas and Stepho Trimmer. Nicholas lives and works in Denver, CO and Stepho is in graduate school in Bozeman, MT. The two boys were the joy of her life and she considered herself blessed to have lived long enough and been healthy enough to enjoy their company and watch them blossom.
Heaven is rejoicing in the gift of her arrival and somewhere in God's universe, a new star shines brightly. May she spend eternity on good horses riding smooth trails along crisp mountain streams. Maybe even teach the apostles to fly fish.
Service to be held Friday February 10th at 9 a.m. First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe, 208 Grant St, Santa Fe NM
Burial following at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 10:30 a.m.
Reception and Celebration Saturday February 11th, 2023 @ 1:00pm 112 Valley Drive, Santa Fe NM