Sarah H.E. Baltzell, environmental activist, dies at 77

EVER HEAR of Angel Alley? Sarah Handy Edwards Baltzell did. The passageway between Warnock and Alder streets, in North Philadelphia, harbors mosaics of Ethiopian angels, there to protect the children of the neighborhood.

It is one of the colorful curiosities of Philadelphia, like secret paths through Wissahickon Park, that Sarah Baltzell tramped with her restless camera to lend her special artistic sensibility to her discoveries.

This onetime debutante, descendant of one of the "first families" of Virginia, died Aug. 31 at age 77.

Sarah, a dedicated community activist, was a woman of many talents with a passionate interest in civic affairs, artistic endeavors and environmental concerns, and was a gracious hostess who loved to entertain her friends with gooseberries that she grew.

"Sarah epitomized the graciousness and politeness of a bygone era, while embracing the contemporary world with her curious, creative and sensitive mind," said her daughter, Virginia Southall Baltzell.

"These qualities enabled her to preserve friendships from all walks of life. She was a gentle soul and a loyal friend with a sense of joie de vivre."

Sarah was born in Oklahoma City, the daughter of Archibald Cason Edwards and Sarah Stanley Gordon. Her paternal grandfather, R.J. Edwards, was one of the founding settlers of Oklahoma. The Gordons, her mother's family, originally settled in Virginia in the 1700s.

Sarah grew up a debutante in Baltimore, then moved to the Philadelphia area, where she attended the Shipley School, in Bryn Mawr, and Bryn Mawr College, from which she graduated in 1954.

In April that year, she married Dr. William Hewson Baltzell IV, and they moved to Chestnut Hill.

She promptly took advantage of the cultural and artistic activities of the city, studying horticulture at the Barnes Foundation and becoming active with the Art Museum.

She wrote articles for the Chestnut Hill Local of historical and sociological interest, and was a member of Designing Women, an organization of women who joined together to invest in businesses that would benefit the city.

After her marriage ended in divorce in 1974, she moved to New York City for a time. But she soon returned to her adopted city and went to work for the late state Sen. Henry J. "Buddy" Cianfrani.

She studied law at Widener University and worked as a paralegal. She received a master's degree in business administration from Temple University in 1984, and became a licensed real-estate broker.

Sarah's passion for photography led her to travel widely in the United States and abroad, looking for interesting subjects. She also did portraits of her friends, which "betray a deep psychological sensitivity," her daughter said. Her photos were shown in galleries in Pennsylvania, Maine, New York, Texas and Oklahoma.

She was also an avid gardener, a member of the Schuylkill River Park Community Garden and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

In the 1990s, she joined with the Philadelphia Tree Planting Project to plant street trees in Center City.

She was a longtime member of the Acorn Club, where she was one of the "Witches of Wall Street," an investment club. She was also a member of the Cosmopolitan Club, Philadelphia Sketch Club and the Order of First Families of Virginia.

Besides her daughter, she is survived by a son, William Hewson Baltzell V; two brothers, Archibald Edwards and Hilary Edwards; two sisters, Elizabeth Amato and Mary Edwards; and two grandchildren.

Services: Memorial service at 4 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Acorn Club, 1519 Locust St. Contributions may be made to the Philadelphia Sketch Club, 235 S. Camac St., Philadelphia 19107.