Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Alletta d'Andelot LAIRD
Alletta d'Andelot Laird Downs
Devoted wife, accomplished sportswoman, quiet philanthropist, forward thinking land conservationist, caring humanitarian, loyal and helpful friend, Letty Downs died Saturday, August 6, 2005, at her home, "Letdown", outside Wilmington, DE. She was 92 years old.
Alletta Downs was born June 5, 1913 in Wilmington, the 3rd child of William Winder Laird, Sr. (1878-1927) and Mary Belin duPont Laird (1878-1938). She grew up in Wilmington, attended Tower Hill School, and went on to graduate from Oldfields School in Glencoe, MD in 1931. She married Robert Norton Downs, III on September 21, 1935, and they established a permanent residence on Centre Road in Wilmington. Mrs. Downs took up her husband's interests in both hunting and fishing and the 2 of them loved spending time together hunting in Chestertown, MD and salmon fishing in Canada. Her husband claimed her skills quickly surpassed his in both pursuits. Mr. Downs died in 1977.
Mrs. Downs was a lifelong member of Christ Church Christiana Hundred, where she was active throughout her life. She served on the Altar Guild for many years and with her husband, was co-chair of the music committee. Her support of the well-known church choir included entertaining members at her home and getting to know them and their families in a very personal way. She played a key role in obtaining a new organ for the church, meeting with various builders and consultants, and ultimately traveling to Eugene, OR to witness the organ's construction.
Mrs. Downs was an active supporter of the Ingleside retirement community. Her generous support enabled the building of the Downs Cultural Enrichment Center for Seniors at the Ingleside Retirement Apartments, 1005 N. Franklin Street. This 200-seat auditorium provides educational, social and cultural programming for older adults and their families.
Concerned with the impact that development was having on the wildlife in northern New Castle County, Mrs. Downs created the Robert N. Downs Memorial Conservancy, consisting of 350 acres that she and her husband owned in Hockessin and northern Wilmington. This tract of land represents an island refuge habitat for flora and fauna that are rapidly disappearing from northern DE. In addition, her conservation efforts included completely restoring the Simon Hadley Barn, built in Hockesssin in 1717, and thought to be one of the oldest standing barns found in DE. She was awarded the 1995 Historic Preservation Award by New Castle County for this barn restoration project.
Throughout her lifetime, Mrs. Downs supported many cultural, educational, conservation and medical institutions in DE. In support of her husband's alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, she provided hulls for women's crew, helped renovate the Whiteman House and Hutchison Gymnasium, and endowed a faculty chair in support of gynecological oncology research programs. To honor her husband's service as captain in the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, Mrs. Downs endowed a museum headquartered in the armory of 23rd Street, which houses the City Troop's historic memorabilia.
Yet it was her quiet, but very personal philanthropy of helping individuals in need that made her a truly beloved member of this community. Considerate, gracious, and always offering a kind word for everyone, she left those with whom she had contact with smiles on their faces.
She was a member of the Acorn Club in Philadelphia, the Wilmington Country Club and the Greenville Country Club.
Mrs. Downs' survivors include 2 sisters, Wilhelmina Laird Craven and Rosa Laird McDonald, both of Wilmington, DE; 11 nieces and nephews; and 14 grandnieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, September 2, at Christ Church Christiana Hundred, Greenville, DE.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to The Robert N. Downs Memorial Conservancy, Inc., PO Box 3666, Wilmington, DE 19807; or to the University of Pennsylvania, Women's Crew, Weightman Hall, 235 South 33rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19104.
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