Mrs. Jean Seder, a graduate of Abington Friends School and an author, journalist, historian, poet, conservationist, social activist, and volunteer, died Thursday, February 6, of age-associated decline at Foulkeways at Gwynedd senior living center. She was 102 years old.

Mrs. Seder and her husband, Simmon, lived in Philadelphia, Elkins Park, and Jenkintown where she was a founding member of the Wyncote chapter of the National Audubon Society.

“A Certain Tract of Land was inspired by her determination to save and maintain the Crosswicks Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary in Abington Township,” her obituary said. “She detailed the 20-acre property’s history and environmental significance in the 75-page book, and told The Inquirer in 1988: ‘I’m not anti-development. … I’m just saying let’s be intelligent about it.'”

Mrs. Seder in 1988:

Abington has little pockets, and we need to preserve them. … Crosswicks is just a symbol of what we need to do. … Developers and environmentalists need to work together.

She also wrote the award-winning Voices of Kensington: Vanishing Mills, Vanishing Neighborhoods in 1982.

A celebration of life will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, May 24 at Foulkeways at Gwynedd, 1120 Meetinghouse Road in Gwynedd.

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Photos: Courtesy of the family via The Inquirer