Terra Pressler

Terra Pressler, 71, passed away at home on February 1, surrounded by members of her family and her care-giving team. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Lois and Paul Pressler. She is survived by her adored son, Jonathan, her daughter-in-law, Marz, her brother Chuck (Pattie), her sister Carolyn (Sue Ebbers) and a scrum of beloved nieces and nephews.

Terra was born in Whittier, CA, on May 25, 1950. A precocious infant, at 6 months she convinced her parents to move to Elkhart, IN, where she graduated from Elkhart High School in 1968. She earned a BA from Hillsdale College (MI), which was followed by a JD from Willamette University College of Law (OR) and a PhD in Theater from The University of Oregon . She transposed her work as an Elkhart Probation Officer in Elkhart into a Law Practice in Salem (OR). During her work as an attorney and juvenile court magistrate in Salem, she married John Daugirda, with whom she shared a good 20-year marriage, followed by (in her words) an equally good divorce.

After moving to Tampa, FL, Terra wrote a new chapter of her life by exiting the practice of law and joining the practice of teaching. For several years, she served as Adjunct Professor at the University of Tampa. Terra moved to Santa Fe in 2010, where she taught courses in drama, acting, writing, critical thinking, and film as an Adjunct at Santa Fe Community College and a contributing professor at Santa Fe University of Art and Design. 

As long as she could remember, Terra loved to sing; her first words were sung, not spoken. While in law school, she and her friend Jim frequented the club scene as a duo called “Non Compos Mentis,” which means “not in one’s right mind”, a “Terra-like” choice of names. During that time, she performed in several musicals, including Gypsy and Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. In Tampa she became the fourth member of a trio called “Outrageous Fortune”. Our Terra was certainly in her right mind, though she could be outrageous, and she surely enhanced the fortunes of everyone who came to know her.

Terra was an accomplished writer and playwright. Her plays include “Earth People Looking at Sky” -  a one woman show featuring both spoken words and original songs - and “Fat.” Her published books include Creative Juice, Cracker Wisdom, and Turn.

In addition to singing and writing, Terra loved to give of herself. She was a volunteer forest ranger in both Oregon and New Mexico. She also volunteered at the Santa Fe Food Depot and for Hospice. She was singularly committed to the twelve-step program, serving as a beloved sponsor for many.

Terra was an adverbial woman. She traveled extensively - throughout the United States, to Guatemala, Africa, France, Italy, Bhutan, the former Burma, Tibet, Nepal, and Bali. She taught enthusiastically, sang and acted passionately, thought critically, became a friend easily, loved unflinchingly, suffered painfully, and died peacefully, all the while teaching us how to love fearlessly.

Terra requested that her memorial service be held outdoors in early September (time and place to be announced closer to the time in the SF New Mexican.) Memorials to the Santa Fe Food Depot are welcomed.

The family of precious Terra has entrusted The Rivera Family Funeral Home with their loved one. 

We invite you to post a condolence, a thoughtful message, a photograph or share a memory for our families to read on the guestbooks.

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