This 85-Year-Old Activist Uses a Mini-Me Marionette to Feed Squirrels in Washington Square Park—and It’s Pure Magic
I still remember scrolling online and stopping cold at a photograph: an 85-year-old woman in a trench coat, gently using a marionette doll that looked just like her to feed a squirrel in Washington Square Park. It was one of those images that wraps itself around your heart and doesn’t let go. The woman in the photo was Doris Diether, a longtime housing rights activist and beloved Village icon. The marionette was the creation of street performer Ricky Syers, who had become her dear friend.
Their story is not just charming—it’s a beautiful affirmation of friendship, creativity, and community at its most human.
Doris was a fixture in Greenwich Village, a neighborhood forever shaped by voices like hers. She’d spent decades fighting to preserve historic buildings and stop unwelcome development—next to Jane Jacobs herself, waging battles for the soul of the Village. She served on Manhattan’s Community Board No. 2 longer than anyone on record at the time, a testament to her passion for civic responsibility. But her legacy wasn’t just in politics—it was in her presence. At nearly 90, she could still be found circling the park, feeding pigeons and squirrels, chatting with musicians and performers, beloved by all who saw her.
When Ricky Syers met Doris in the park, she was already a fan of puppetry—she had cut out newspaper clippings about marionettes dating back to the 1970s. They bonded instantly over this shared fascination. Out of that friendship, Ricky crafted a miniature Doris marionette in her likeness—rosy cheeks, white hair, floral blouse, handbag, cane and all—and presented it to her as a tribute. It was both thoughtful and whimsical, the kind of gift that feels deeply personal and irrepressibly joyful.
In those photos, Doris holds the marionette above the ground, and the squirrel—familiar and unafraid—reaches out to nibble a nut from the puppet’s hand. It’s an image frozen in time, a gentle moment of connection across species, age, and creativity. But the layers of meaning behind it run deep. Doris had lost her voice temporarily, and yet found another way to express warmth without words. She was a fierce advocate in the boardroom, and here she was in the park, humbling herself to befriend the wild creatures of the city she loved so fiercely.
When she passed away at age 92 in September 2021, tributes poured in—from city officials, friends, and even performers in the park. In October 2022, her home park honored her with a bench bearing her name: “Doris Diether Sat Here. Iconic Community Hero, Activist, Preservationist, Historian.” That bench isn’t a cold memorial—it’s a living tribute. Nearby, perennial plantings of milkweed and flowers that support butterflies were installed, a nod to her nurturing presence in both human and natural communities.
I love thinking about Doris slipping through the park, peanuts in her pocket, a twinkle in her eye, her puppet swinging gently at her side. A living symbol that activism doesn’t have to be serious all the time. That friendship can come in marionettes. That public life and personal tenderness can exist side by side, feeding squirrels and inspiring generations.
Daniel Reed is a curious mind with a passion for breaking down how the world works. With a background in mechanical engineering and digital media, he turns complex ideas into easy-to-understand articles that entertain and inform. From vintage tools and modern tech to viral internet debates and life hacks, Daniel is always on the hunt for the “why” behind the everyday. His goal is simple: make learning feel like scrolling through your favorite feed — addictive, surprising, and fun.