Tributes

Ethel Maldonado Spiegler, of Haverford Pennsylvania, passed away at age 96 on June 4, 2023. She was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on April 14, 1927 and became a naturalized citizen of the United States. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Baptist Missionary Training School in Chicago, Illinois and later studied education at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ethel emigrated to the United States from Guatemala to attend college motivated by her desire to help others and help build a more just and equal society, in accordance with her Christian faith. After receiving training at the Baptist Missionary Training School, she did missionary work with migrants. She also worked with the local communities in Texas and other places around the United States doing reading tutoring and other educational outreach. Ethel had many careers including legal secretary, lab technician, substitute teacher, and others. She devoted a great deal of her life to her work as a homemaker, raising her three children and later as beloved Abuelita of two granddaughters. Outside of the home, she will also be remembered as an artist, who particularly loved painting and drawing and created many beautiful works. Ethel met the love of her life, Gerhard Spiegler, in Chicago. Soon thereafter they married in 1953. They had three children, Karin Ethel, Eric John, and Mark Dieter Spiegler. Ethel is also survived by her grandchildren, Karin's daughters, Sarah Maldonado Gordon, an attorney, and Emma Cohen Gordon, a social work graduate student, and many other beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. While Gerhard Spiegler served as professor of philosophy of religion at Haverford College, Ethel participated in many activities to enrich the Haverford College campus community. She is predeceased by her parents, Arsenio Maldonado and Juanita Arceo-Diaz, sisters Yolanda, Ruth, and Eloise, and beloved husband Gerhard Spiegler, who passed away in 2015. Ethel could best be described as playful, loving, musical, creative, with a strong sense of justice and desire for equality of all peoples, regardless of race or national origin. A private graveyard service will be held at Haverford Friends Meeting, in accordance with her Quaker faith. A memorial at Haverford Friends Meeting will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Southern Poverty Law Center or the American Friends Service Committee.

Tributes

Ethel Maldonado Spiegler

April 14, 1927 - June 4, 2023