Beloved Goshen Photographer and Forest Protector Virginia Gigi Schendler Dies

Virginia “Gigi” Geary Schendler, a Goshen resident described in her obituary as a photographer, forest protector and beloved family member, died on January 11, 2026 near her home. The listing highlights deep ties to the local community and marks the passing of a familiar presence in Sullivan County life.

Schendler’s obituary characterizes her by two public roles: documenting the county’s landscapes through photography and protecting the woods that surround Goshen. Those dual pursuits intersected with everyday life here, supporting both civic culture and the informal economy tied to outdoor recreation. In a rural county like Sullivan, where trails, forests and scenic photography draw visitors and sustain small businesses, local stewards of the land contribute to neighborhood quality of life as well as to the modest economic activity around weekend visitors and nature-based services.

The immediate impact is personal and communal. Family members and neighbors will feel the loss of a close relative and long-standing local figure; the obituary notes she was beloved by family. For the broader community, the absence of a local forest protector adds weight to ongoing conservation conversations about stewardship, access and volunteer capacity. Local conservation groups and town officials often rely on residents who combine grassroots knowledge with boots-on-the-ground advocacy; Schendler’s passing reduces that pool of lived experience at a moment when rural communities continue to balance private land use, public access and the economic benefits of outdoor recreation.

Practical information for those wishing to send condolences or learn about memorial arrangements is available through local obituary listings. The community can also expect friends and neighbors to organize remembrances and possibly collaborative efforts to honor her legacy in ways that reflect her photographic eye and commitment to the woods.

Schendler’s death underscores the role individuals play in sustaining Sullivan County’s everyday environmental and cultural life. Her photography recorded the places residents value, and her forest protection helped preserve the landscapes that sustain local recreation and small-scale economic activity. As the town moves forward, the work of conservation and community memory will continue to shape how Goshen remembers her and carries on the stewardship she embodied.