Obituary for Sophia “Sophie” (Shewchin) Ridha
Sophia “Sophie” (Shewchin) Ridha, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, passed away quietly on May 6, 2023 at the age of 89.
Sophie married Nooraldeen “Noori” M. Ridha on July 27, 1962 in Basil, Switzerland and spent 55 years as a loving wife. Together they raised three children, Amal (Ahmed) Ridha, Al Ridha, and Ed (Lisa) Ridha. Sophie was a proud grandmother of Haidar BinHamid, Hassen BinHamid, Skye Ridha, Heather Ridha, and Jacob Merrell. Her mother, Marie Schewchin, her father, John Shewchin, and her husband, Noori Ridha preceded her in death.
Sophie was born in Ann Arbor on Christmas Eve 1933 and grew up in the old west side on Mosely Street and then later on S. Division Street, attended Bach Elementary and graduated from Ann Arbor High School. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan in Education. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Sophie taught in Ferndale, then trailblazed in a new car to teach in Culver City, California – a pioneering woman in that era! She then accepted a job teaching English on a US Army base in Germany.
While at the University of Michigan, she met her future husband, Noori at a dance at the Michigan League. They courted for seven years by mail. While in Europe they reconnected and married in Basil, Switzerland. Sophie and Noori then proceeded to tour Europe and filled Noori’s car with everything a newlywed would need for a home. They drove to Baghdad, Iraq to start their chapter of being a family. She taught at an English school for several years. In 1976, the family came to Ann Arbor where they continued raising three children.
Sophie was the first teacher hired in the pilot program of English As A Second Language (ESL) in the Ann Arbor public schools where she laid the foundation for today’s ESL program. Sophie was integral in the education of inclusiveness and acceptance, was a mentor, and began the long lasting “International Night” in AAPS.
Sophie enjoyed gatherings, golfing, her students, the beach and condominium in Florida. She loved and cherished her whole family and will be truly missed.
Sophie was laid to rest on May 9, 2023 at Washtenong Memorial Park Cemetery of Ann Arbor.
Memorial Gathering will be held at Nie Family Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Road, Ann Arbor, on Sunday, May 14, 2023 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm with a Memorial Service at 3:00 pm.
Sophie married Nooraldeen “Noori” M. Ridha on July 27, 1962 in Basil, Switzerland and spent 55 years as a loving wife. Together they raised three children, Amal (Ahmed) Ridha, Al Ridha, and Ed (Lisa) Ridha. Sophie was a proud grandmother of Haidar BinHamid, Hassen BinHamid, Skye Ridha, Heather Ridha, and Jacob Merrell. Her mother, Marie Schewchin, her father, John Shewchin, and her husband, Noori Ridha preceded her in death.
Sophie was born in Ann Arbor on Christmas Eve 1933 and grew up in the old west side on Mosely Street and then later on S. Division Street, attended Bach Elementary and graduated from Ann Arbor High School. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan in Education. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Sophie taught in Ferndale, then trailblazed in a new car to teach in Culver City, California – a pioneering woman in that era! She then accepted a job teaching English on a US Army base in Germany.
While at the University of Michigan, she met her future husband, Noori at a dance at the Michigan League. They courted for seven years by mail. While in Europe they reconnected and married in Basil, Switzerland. Sophie and Noori then proceeded to tour Europe and filled Noori’s car with everything a newlywed would need for a home. They drove to Baghdad, Iraq to start their chapter of being a family. She taught at an English school for several years. In 1976, the family came to Ann Arbor where they continued raising three children.
Sophie was the first teacher hired in the pilot program of English As A Second Language (ESL) in the Ann Arbor public schools where she laid the foundation for today’s ESL program. Sophie was integral in the education of inclusiveness and acceptance, was a mentor, and began the long lasting “International Night” in AAPS.
Sophie enjoyed gatherings, golfing, her students, the beach and condominium in Florida. She loved and cherished her whole family and will be truly missed.
Sophie was laid to rest on May 9, 2023 at Washtenong Memorial Park Cemetery of Ann Arbor.
Memorial Gathering will be held at Nie Family Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Road, Ann Arbor, on Sunday, May 14, 2023 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm with a Memorial Service at 3:00 pm.