Eloise F Ribisl

Eloise F. Ribisl of Sherman, CT passed away peacefully at home, following a short and unexpected illness, on June 11, 2024. She was 88 years old.  Eloise was born October 30, 1935 in New Eagle, PA and raised in Monongahela, PA.

Eloise is survived by her husband, Dr. Richard Ribisl; children, Eloise R. Stager (Michael), and Det. Richard “Scott” Ribisl (Joanna); grandchildren, Matthew, Mikaela and Jacqueline Stager and Summer, Dylan and Addison Ribisl. She is survived by her brother Jerome France, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Eloise is preceded in death by her parents, Norman Selby France and Enilda Bianchi France of Monongahela, PA, and a brother, Bruce France.

Eloise moved to Sherman, CT with her husband and two young children in 1973.  She involved herself in several community organizations such as the zoning board of appeals and Sherman Sentinel for many years. She was the girls’ softball coach in the late 70’s and was a member of the “Charlie’s Angels” adult women’s soccer team in the 80’s. Lakeside parties at the Ribisl home are remembered by many as a highlight of the summer.

Eloise took great interest her children’s and grandchildren’s activities and achievements and was always ready to babysit, chauffeur, attend sports events, school plays, concerts, awards ceremonies and graduations – she was also known to teach the grandchildren poker!

Eloise graduated from the University of Pittsburg in 1957 and later earned both her master’s (Pitt, 1960) and Ph.D. (Fordham, University, 1980) in psychology. Her legacy at Pitt includes being a founding member of the women’s basketball club (which later became the women’s intercollegiate NCAA basketball team) and the Panhellenic president of Greek organizations. She was a respected and admired sorority sister and officer of Kappa Alpha Theta (“Thetas”) during her time at Pitt.

She married Dr. Richard Ribisl, D.D.S., in 1961. Together, they traveled the country for the first two years of their marriage with the United States Public Health Service medical survey team. Eloise’s role was to connect with and encourage members of the community to participate in an ongoing national health survey. Through this experience, she was enlightened to the many subcultures of the United States, which reinforced her stalwart support of equal civil and human rights, which were afflicting the country in the 1960’s.

She was the vocational rehabilitation director at Fairfield Hills Hospital early in her career in CT, and at the time of her retirement around 1995, was the acting regional director of district five for the CT Department of Mental Health.

Eloise enjoyed world travel with her husband, spending time with her six grandchildren and playing lots of golf! Most of all, she enjoyed sitting on her porch with a glass of red wine or a margarita. Eloise loved an adventure, and travel and roller coasters were among her favorite activities. She was known to parasail and hang glide whenever the opportunity presented itself. She has bungee jumped, river rafted, snow and water skied. She was open-minded, spirited, brilliant, funny, loving and pragmatic. She was a wiz with numbers and her sense of humor was witty and often poignant. Her presence, character and personality left an indelible mark on those she met.

Eloise will be forever loved, admired and missed.

A private celebration of her life is planned for the end of July. She will be laid to rest at the Sherman Congregational Church cemetery.

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