Estelle Wells Evans Estelle Wells Evans
Born Helen Estelle Wells at her ancestors’ farm on Sound Avenue, Riverhead, N.Y., on Dec. 22, 1917, Estelle lived there for most of her first 60 years, going to Northville School and then graduating from Riverhead High School. She passed away on Dec. 21, 2020.
At Cornell University, Estelle majored in what was then called home economics, also taking courses in plumbing, electrical wiring and even the sport of fencing. College for her and her two surviving sisters was largely paid for by the peach orchard her father, Leslie T. Wells, planted for that purpose.
As a sister in Sigma Kappa sorority in the class of 1940, Estelle was enormously proud that they pledged an African American student, even though it meant decertification by Cornell.