Virginia "Ginny" Ricard, PhD

“Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence.” -Pope John Paul II

“Do all that you do with love” -St. Therese of Lisieux

Obituary

Virginia “Ginny” Belle (Hill) Ricard, PhD, of Fort Collins, Colorado, passed away peacefully at the age of 97 on July 11, 2025. She was a beloved mother, aunt, sister to two siblings, grandmother of three, and great-grandmother of three. Ginny was cherished among family and friends, a mentor of life and spirit, and the most gracious of hosts. Ginny was an educator, a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, a life-long Girl Scout, an artist, and a writer.


A child of “The Rockies,” Virginia Belle was born on November 27, 1927, in Denver, Colorado to Theodore Raymond Hill and Loraine Griffin of Salina, Kansas. When she was three years old, her family returned to Salina, where she attended the local school for African American children, Dunbar Elementary, from kindergarten through eighth grade. Her mother taught at Dunbar Elementary from 1924-1927. Ginny attended an integrated high school, Salina Central High School, graduating in 1945, and was inducted into the distinguished Mustang Hall of Fame in 1993.


She went to Marymount College, majoring in Chemistry, graduating in 1949. In college, she studied German, and minored in Education and Biological Science. With this foundational education, Ginny became a Registered Medical Technologist, which brought her to New York where she interned at St. Mary’s (Rochester), and later worked in New York City at Beth Israel Hospital, and ran a laboratory that served three surgical floors at New York Hospital. During this time, following World War II, many of her patients were incoming victims of the Holocaust.


In 1953, Virginia Belle Hill and Lt. Wilbert Kenneth Ricard from the U.S. Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, were married at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. They began their new life together in Frankfurt, Germany, where they were stationed for three years. Five years after their marriage, they adopted Valerie Anne and moved to France, living in Bordeaux, Chinon and Orléans.


In 1970, the Ricard family settled in Fort Collins, Colorado. Ginny earned her Master’s of Education in Guidance and Counseling, and a second master’s degree in Adult and Community Education at Colorado State University. She completed her doctoral research at Union Graduate School. She was a published author of many journal articles, books, and innovative intercultural educational resources. She prioritized self-directed learning and cross-cultural communication, serving as both a professional and personal facilitator at local, national and international levels. In her later years, she considered her service of ten years to Regis University in Denver, Colorado a joyful highlight of her professional career. She received the Excellence in Teaching Award in 2004 and in 2009, at age 82, the Keystone Award for Professional Service in the College of Professional Studies at Regis University.

Ginny was active in the Northern Colorado Weavers Guild for more than twenty years, and especially enjoyed felting from sheep, llama and alpaca wools. She mastered this craft and many others including watercolors, basket-making, and sewing (when she was 5 years old!). In the last decade of her life, she battled macular degeneration, but this didn’t dissuade her from devoting herself to painting, which she especially enjoyed when painting with her great grandchildren.


Ginny was a life-long Girl Scout. She first began scouting at Dunbar Elementary School as an Intermediate Girl Scout. Years later, when she and her husband were living abroad, she volunteered to lead a Brownie troop at Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany. This was the beginning of a life of service to the Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA). Ginny was not only a devoted Girl Scout, she also was a true leader. She began as a troop leader, advanced to a trainer of leaders, and then to a trainer of trainers. She served as the Country Commissioner in France for GSUSA Troops on Foreign Soil (TOFS), working closely with Les Guides de France. When she returned to the U.S., Ginny served as leader of Junior and Cadette troops, as a member of the National Volunteer Training Corps, and as a National Board Nominee. She represented the GSUSA at international conferences in Cuernavaca, Mexico, Our chalet (of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) in Switzerland, and world conferences in Denmark and Singapore. She served as the National Secretary, Chair of Region 5, and as the first National President of the Girl Scouts, USA. She earned multiple awards, especially in Girl Scouting, education, and community service.


Ginny was the family elder, deep with wisdom that she gracefully shared with all, and is well showcased in her book, A Goodly Heritage, published in 2016. A story of one family of former slaves and Free People of Color who left the South after the Civil War to settle in the Midwest, she weaves storytelling with 12 years of genealogical research extending over eight generations. Ginny’s core values are self-identified: God, Family, Learning and Service.


Ginny is survived by her daughter (Valerie Anne), three grandchildren (Karina Anne, Jennifer Leah, and Jack Kenneth), three great-grandchildren (Alexandra Liliana, Peyton Rose, and Hailey Belle), nieces (Rhona Willams London, Sonya Johnson, and Meredith Bokamba), nephew (Evan Williams), grand nephews (Jeremy Williams and Austin Williams), and her brother (Raymond Kent Hill), along with many loving cousins, great grands, and in-laws (The Raycraft Family). She was preceded in death by her mother (Loraine Griffin Hill), her father (Theodore Raymond Hill), her husband (Wilbert Kenneth “Ric” Ricard), her sister (Constance Loraine Hill), and nephews (Kenton Hill and Brent Williams).


Ginny made friends from around the world, from her early days in her twenties at the YWCA in New York City to her last days at the Centre Avenue Health and Rehab Facility in Fort Collins. Her family extends their gratitude to all of her caretakers from Home Instead and the Centre Rehab.


A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, 300 W Mountain Ave, Fort Collins, 80521. All are welcome. A Celebration of Life Event, hosted by the Raycraft family, will be held that afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at the Clubhouse at Indian Meadows Lane, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Eulogies

Eulogy from the family- (Author: Jeremy Williams)

I’m honored to speak on behalf of my family as we celebrate the life of Virginia “Ginny” Ricard—a woman who was, to so many of us, a guiding force, a steady light, and the heart of our family.

It’s hard to summarize a life as full and rich as Aunt Ginny’s in just a few words. She was a woman of conviction, grace, and deep compassion—someone who left an imprint on every life she touched. Her home was always open, and not just physically—open in spirit, warmth, and welcome. If you visited, there was always a meal, a story, and a moment that gave you exactly what you didn’t know you needed.

Aunt Ginny had a way of slowing time. Whether you spent five minutes or five hours with her, you left feeling seen, replenished, and clearer in your heart. She didn’t speak just to fill silence—her words carried weight. They were thoughtful, earned, and wise.

She also expected much of herself and gently encouraged the same in others—not through pressure, but by example. She lived with purpose and never stopped learning, teaching, or giving. Whether she was writing, painting, weaving, or sharing stories from her travels, she was always exploring—seeking connection, beauty, and truth.

One of Aunt Ginny’s greatest gifts was her ability to bring people together. Across generations, across cultures, across differences—she found common ground. Her genealogical research wasn’t just about tracing ancestry; it was about helping us understand who we are, where we come from, and what values have shaped us. She shared that work freely and generously, making sure each of us felt rooted in something larger than ourselves.

But her legacy isn’t just found in grand projects. It’s in the phone call at just the right time. The card that arrived when things felt heavy. The quiet look that said, “I understand.” She had an uncanny sense of when someone needed her—and she always showed up. She listened with her whole being and responded with clarity, kindness, and care.

As a lifelong educator and community servant, Aunt Ginny poured her energy into uplifting others. She didn’t just believe in service—she lived it. From mentoring Girl Scouts, to teaching students, to quietly supporting countless lives behind the scenes, her impact ripples far beyond what most of us will ever fully know.

In our family, she was our matriarch. The thread that kept us connected—not just through holidays or reunions, but through an ongoing legacy of love. At her last birthday celebration, so many of us gathered together, and that day—full of laughter and shared stories—felt like a gift only she could have inspired. Her presence had a way of calling people home.

And now, even in this moment of loss, she brings us together again. I believe she would want us to carry that spirit forward—not just today, or this month, but always. Her light, her love, her example live on in each of us.

Aunt Ginny once wrote about “A Goodly Heritage.” And that’s exactly what she leaves behind. A heritage of strength, of curiosity, of service, and of deep, unwavering love. She showed us that family is more than blood—it’s choice, care, and commitment. That wisdom is meant to be shared. That a good life is measured not in years, but in the lives we touch.

So let us honor her by living in her light. By reaching out to each other and supporting each other. By continuing to ask questions, seek truth, and serve others. Aunt Ginny may no longer be with us in body—but her presence, her example, and her love remain woven into the fabric of our lives.

Thank you.





Eulogy from a dear friend (Author: Rosemary Casey)

I first met Virginia B. Ricard, in 1971, at the Volunteers Clearing House in Ft. Collins, CO. I had recently begun working there as a Program Coordinator for the adult second language and academic learning program that the director, Frances Thompson, had previously initiated. I was fresh back from two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Northern Mariana Islands in the western Pacific. Pretty naïve, I was still figuring out what my job required when Fran brought me into a meeting with herself and Ginny. Ginny had an idea that was perfect for the Clearing House – innovative, needs-based, focused on a specific population that was not being served. Out of that conversation grew the idea of the Grandmothers – Las Mujeres Activas, that eventually was known statewide.

The Grandmothers were older, mostly illiterate (and certainly illiterate in English) Mexican and Mexican American women, some of whom were grandmothers, who wanted to learn English but had found it nearly impossible. Ginny’s plan – to teach English through tasks and materials the women were very familiar with, became a wonderful learning experience for all of us – the women and the teachers, and eventually those who came to visit the program. Cooking Mexican food with ordinary ingredients, turning these experiences into teaching lessons after the cooking (and eating), and eventually creating a cookbook of the recipes, with photos of the women, was celebrated with university professors and community dignitaries. The women learned so much, including gaining self-worth and self-confidence. Ginny’s ideas and implementation changed the lives of these women, and my own life as well.

Ginny went on from VCH to a faculty position at Colorado State University’s Adult Learning department. While there, she was my advisor when I pursued my master’s degree in Adult Teaching and Learning. She became a mentor for me during those days, someone I could always ask about professional concerns as well as sharing personal experiences. Her wisdom was so appreciated – then, and over the years.

What I learned from Ginny was much!
· To love – regardless of anything.
· To hope – always for the better.
· To contribute – to go all in when you believe in something.
· To remember – those who came before, and those who moved on, and all the lessons learned.
· To include – anyone who wanted to contribute.
· To collaborate – to achieve a goal.
· To not be deterred when you feel you’re right.
· To trust in God, and in friends who have proven their trust in me.

Over the years, Ginny was a foundational part of my Ft. Collins experience. She was always a cheerleader for me, encouraging me to go for my goals, to get through my struggles, to continue to hope, and to achieve where I could. She was a touchstone to some of the best times of my life. As an Elder, she was a pillar in a community of talented women. I’m so grateful she was, and will continue to be a part of my life and my memories!

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Memory wall

November 18, 2025

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In the early 2000s I had the pleasure of living in the unit next to Ginny for 4 years. In the US for four years from Canada my work had me traveling for several weeks out of each month. Ginny was this amazing touch of home for me and we spent many Friday nights where wine and cheese morphed into dinner. As a comparatively young academic/practitioner Ginny became my friend and mentor even though we were in completely different disciplines. Her creativity, kindness, and generosity still refill my heart. Each year i place an angel she felted on the top of my tree and this Christmas it will have an extra little glow.

Pamela Wright

October 23, 2025

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I am saddened to hear that Ginny Ricard has passed and only came to know recently as I’ve been out of touch. I wish I had been more diligent in staying in contact. I met Ginny through her husband Ken. We were colleagues at the Reid Burton Construction Company while he was pursuing his Master’s and I had just completed mine at Colorado State University. I remember fondly the many times we spent together over a meal and attempted to solve the world’s problems and partnered on many construction projects together after I started my own company, MBI.
I am forever grateful for our friendship and the opportunity of being together.
Rest in peace, dear friend!

Raju Jairam

September 2, 2025

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I was saddened to learn of Ginny’s passing and know what a tremendous loss her passing is to the entire Ricard family, as well as to her Girl Scout family. Of which, I am one. I loved working with Ginny and believe she was the most gracious and beloved person I ever met.
In 1990, I attended Girl Scoutings World Conference in Singapore. Wherever I went, participants would look at my country ID and say “Do you know Virginia Ricard” and launch into a conversation praising Ginny. She was an amazing inspiration to many.
I send my deepest sympathy.
Florence Corsello

Florence Corsello

August 25, 2025

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Memory Board

August 21, 2025

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My first connect to Dr. Ricard came through her parents, Mr. and Mr. Raymond Hill. They were friends with my grandparents, Al and Dorothy Hart. They all belonged to the same church and Masonic Lodge. As a child I would pass by the Hill’s house on North Santa Fe. If you either Mr. or Mrs. Hill were on their front porch, I would stop and visit with them. They were always friendly and gracious.
These qualities I saw years later in their daughter, Dr. Ricard. I was introduced to Dr. Ricard through my mother, when both my mother and Dr. Ricard and other Dunbar school Alumni worked to host reunions, and to have Dunbar School recognized in the Salina community. They were two of the most dedicated women that I have ever worked with. Dr. Ricard did not let time nor distance keep her from participating in the work of the Dunbar School Alumni Association. She gladly served as our Dunbar Historian for many years. Her participation continued up until about a year a a half ago. She attended meetings and gave her input by phone. Those of us who were privileged to work with her were blessed by her wisdom and experience. I will miss our phone conversations and her encouragement and praise for the work that we have continued with the Dunbar Alumni Association. She was role model for me and those that knew her.

Dr. Jennifer Gordon

August 17, 2025

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Cousin Ginny brought brightness and joy whenever we talked. Dudley and I spent an enjoyable trip with her to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her knowledge and respect for traditions of the area affected us, deeply. When we talked on the telephone, the day’s activities seemed “brighter “.She gave so much wisdom, strength, and joy. Rest in peace, beloved Ginny.

Carole Dickey

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