Linda Ruth Blondel

LINDA RUTH (WILDER) BLONDEL passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on October 12, 2025, at the age of 78. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 25, 1947, Linda graduated from Baltimore’s Peabody Preparatory School studying piano, music theory, and dance. She then attended Bennington College, graduating as a music and dance major. Linda continued her dance pursuits in New York City, studying modern dance with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. She then moved to the Greek island of Paros to teach dance, before moving to Paris, France, where she co-founded the dance company SITU with Harry Sheppard and Elaine Shipman. While living in Paris, Linda met her future husband, Pierre. Married in 1973, they lived in rural France for a few years before returning to the US to settle in Charlottesville, Virginia, and raise their two sons, Dimitri and Emile, and have lived there the last 45 years. A voracious reader, Linda communicated her love of books to her children, as well as instilling in them her love of nature and animals. Linda’s great joy in recent years was her granddaughter River, daughter of Dimitri and his wife Jennifer Luff. Linda’s passion for travel and for experiencing other cultures remained with her throughout all her life, including extended travels to Kenya, Turkey, and Guatemala. A gifted classical pianist and teacher, Linda had a long and productive musical career in Charlottesville. She worked with many University of Virginia students and faculty musicians, including violinist Svend Rønning and cellist Paige Riggs. She loved chamber music and performed regularly with many local musicians over the years. Linda also maintained a private piano teaching studio and was a long-time member of the Wednesday Music Club. She was the pianist of Cove Presbyterian Church in Covesville for 43 years, retiring from that position this past summer. She was also the pianist of the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Peter Wilson. Linda loved dance and kept dancing throughout her life as a modern dancer; for many years she was a member of the Miki Liszt Dance Company. In 2000, having developed an interest in theater, she appeared at Live Arts in Primer, a dance theater piece by Zen Monkeys, and as a pianist in several cabaret shows. In 2015 she appeared as Mrs. Soames in Our Town, and in 2024 she performed as Mrs. Kornblum in Coney Island Christmas, both at Four County Players and both directed by Boomie Pedersen. Linda was also part of the Hamner Theater’s production of “The World’s Wife,” a collection of poems by Carol Ann Duffy, in which she brought to life the characters of Thetis and Pygmalion’s bride, integrating both movement and voice to fully realize the characters. Linda is survived by her husband, her two sons and her daughter-in-law, and her granddaughter. The burial ceremony will be private; a memorial service is being planned for early December. An online guestbook is available at www.compassionatecremationva.com www.compassionatecremationva.com/obituaries/linda-blondel/ Compassionate Cremation Services of Ruckersville, VA is handling the arrangements.

Linda Ruth Blondel

April 25, 1947 - October 12, 2025