Donna Scheeder, Hill Center’s Beloved Board Chair, Dies Peacefully at Home

“Donna brightened Hill Center whenever she walked through the doors, her warmth, accessibility, and humor made everyone in her presence feel comfortable. Her sage guidance and insight have been an absolute godsend to Hill Center. She made all of Capitol Hill a better place for us all. We shall miss her dearly.”

-Diana Ingraham, Executive Director

Donna Scheeder, a founding Board Member, and President of the Board since 2020, passed peacefully in her Capitol Hill Home on Monday, March 7, 2022. For more than 50 years, Donna was a bright light in the Capitol Hill community, making contributions far too numerous to mention here. 

She was particularly proud of her work with Nicky and Steve Cymrot and others to create Hill Center, faithfully serving as a board member from the inception. Perhaps her most vital role came when she deftly navigated Hill Center through the difficult waters of Covid as president of the Board starting in June 2020.

A widely respected expert on libraries and information systems, Donna retired in 2015 as the Deputy Chief Information Officer for the Library of Congress’s Congressional Research Service. She also served as President of the Governing Board of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. Even with her large career responsibilities, Donna never flagged in giving back to the Hill community, serving as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and Chair of the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee. She was greatly dedicated to her community, friends, family, and a strong advocate for the arts. She always loved hitting the dance floor when the time came!

Donna never missed a Bill Press Talk of the Hill event, or an art gallery opening, where you could always find her admiring the art and engaging in lively discussion amidst many smiles and much laughter. 

Her warm presence and friendship will be greatly missed at Hill Center and across Capitol Hill.

Click here to read our interview with Donna from 2020, talking about her favorite memories at Hill Center, how she first got involved, and more.
Click here to read Donna’s obituary in The Washington Post.

Click here to read Donna’s obituary in the HillRag.