Ronnie Copeland's Enduring Influence
(Photo by Sandra Costello)
When Marion “Ronnie” Copeland passed away earlier this month, she left behind an impressive legacy in animal welfare, as well as a large circle of friends who had enjoyed memorable exchanges with her that shaped their understanding of animal welfare, and the human-animal bond, in meaningful ways.
Ronnie, born in 1936, committed decades of her life to improving the lives of animals. She worked alongside this organization’s namesake, Janet Dakin, on behalf of the Friends of Amherst Stray Animals (FASA) organization. FASA, founded in 1982, later evolved to become Dakin Humane Society in 2001. Ronnie served on Dakin’s Board of Directors from 2006 to 2017.
Prior to embracing animal welfare, Ronnie had an illustrious career as a teacher. She graduated with a BA in English Literature from Drew University, an MA in Literature from Syracuse University, and a PhD in English Literature from UMass. Ronnie was teaching English at Holyoke Community College where she was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship. Having influenced a great number of students, she retired as Professor Emerita.
Ronnie’s next chapter led to becoming a student and scholar of literary animal studies at the Center for Animals and Public Policy at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. She was a lecturer on Animals in Literature and Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Animal Studies at Humane Society University, Washington, DC, and authored many essays as well as two books: Ohiyesa: Charles Alexander Eastman and Cockroach. As book review editor for both NILAS (Nature in Legend and Story) newsletter, and Society & Animals Journal, Ronnie frequently published book reviews and review essays.
Ronnie and her wife Kathy Holmes, who passed away in 2022, opened their Pelham home to a wide array of animals, many with difficult pasts who might otherwise have waited a long time for love. They reveled in the company of their many dogs, cats, goats and other creatures, surrounded by nature.
When Ronnie stepped down from the Dakin Board eight years ago, former Dakin Executive Director Leslie Harris stated, “Ronnie is one of those people who make me think – no matter how old I am – ‘I want to grow up and be like her.’ As a supporter, she has always been generous, as a board member, she has always been thoughtful, and as a colleague in the work we all do for animals, she has always been inspiring.”
At the time she retired from the board, Ronnie stated that she felt being tied to Dakin allows one a “sense of being part of a caring community that's so helpful, moral and ethical. It connects you and it keeps you aware that people really are okay. If they're educated and given the proper information, they make the right choices.”
Since her passing, various tributes to Ronnie have appeared on Dakin’s social media sites. Former Board President Charlotte Cathro noted, “Ronnie contributed so much to Dakin’s success and I enjoyed serving on the board with her.” Former Dakin staff member Ashley Loehn wrote “She was such a special person, I had many good conversations with her about animal welfare when I was young and just starting my journey.” Current Director of Development and Marketing Stacey Price recalled, “Ronnie was among the first people I met when I came to Dakin. She was so welcoming, and it was obvious how devoted she was to her work, education and animals. During the last few years, even though she couldn’t physically be at Dakin, she requested literature on the animals we helped so she could stay connected to the cause she devoted her life to.”
Dakin volunteer Carole DeMetre, who knew both Ronnie and the late Janet Dakin, considers them “groundbreaking people who really got the animal welfare community organized in this area. They got the ball rolling for so many other groups and people to get involved. Ronnie and Janet were among the foremothers of animal welfare in our region.”
Carole described Ronnie as “stately. Her background and the extent of her knowledge was inspiring; after all that time teaching, then she switched over to animal welfare, and educated herself. Plus, she did it later in life. She was kind and sweet, and I always felt honored to be around her.”
Ronnie’s wisdom, compassion, and tireless dedication leave a lasting imprint not only on the lives of the countless animals she championed, but also on the hearts of everyone fortunate enough to walk beside her. Her legacy is a reminder that a life lived in service to others, especially those without a voice, is a life profoundly well spent.