Roberta Achtermeier

Roberta Achtermeier, a former RIDS president, passed away in May of 2006. While Roberta had been ill for some time, her death was unexpected. Roberta’s mother offered all of her dahlias and garden books to the Society. Her dahlias, many of which had already been planted, were carefully dug up by a dedicated crew of RIDS volunteers and replanted at the Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth, RI, which was dedicated in Roberta's memory in August of that year.

Prior to her death, Roberta worked as a realtor with Coldwell Banker in Warwick. She was an ADS certified Dahlia Judge, and in addition to growing and showing her prize-winning dahlias at Rhode Island, Connecticut and Mid-Island Dahlia Society shows, Roberta also showed her Oriental Shorthair cats, which won multiple awards at Cat Fancier's Federation and Cat Fancier's Association shows.

Roberta, with her blue ribbon entry at the 2001 National Show in New York. Roberta won "Best Waterlily Basket" for her Taratahi Ruby blooms.

(Left to Right) Roberta, Dot & Walt Taylor at the 2001 Awards Dinner.

A section of Roberta's dahlia gardens.

In addition to her dahlias, Roberta loved her Oriental Shorthair cats. Two of Roberta's cats, "Tige Sierra" and "Blizkidz Quicksand of Tige", won multiple awards at Cat Fancier's Federation and Cat Fancier's Association shows.

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