For nearly four decades, the Sacramento Turtle and Tortoise Club was defined by the boundless energy, warmth, and dedication of our founder and long-time President, Felice Rood (1932–2021). Known affectionately across Northern California and the wider reptile community as "The Turtle Lady," Felice turned a personal passion into a lifelong mission, transforming the lives of thousands of animals and keepers alike.
Born in the Bronx, New York, on December 20, 1932, Felice's early years were filled with adventure. She met her husband, Bill, at the boatyards on the Hudson River, bonded by a shared love of boat racing. After living in New Jersey and Ohio, the Rood family permanently settled in Sacramento in 1971 —the city that would become the epicenter of her rescue work.
Leading the Way
In 1981, Felice founded the Sacramento Turtle and Tortoise Club (STTC). She often joked that, while it cost only two dollars to join, it was a "million-dollar club" in spirit.
Felice lived by a simple, open-door philosophy. She famously transformed her own backyard into a bustling wildlife sanctuary, taking in abandoned, injured, or stray chelonians. Her home became a safe haven where she provided adoptions, coordinated veterinary care, and even ran a temporary "hotel" for displaced reptiles.
A Lifelong Educator and Advocate
Felice believed that education was the key to animal welfare and that there would always be a need to support new turtle keepers. For decades, she served club members through continuous outreach and community engagement:
- The STTC Newsletter: Four times a year, Felice personally produced and published a newsletter packed with practical husbandry advice and club news. A total of 147 newsletters were published.
- Turtlerama: She organized regular educational meetings and pioneered the annual "Turtlerama" public exhibition, a cherished event that brought reptile education to the wider Sacramento public.
- Community Partnerships: She collaborated closely with local organizations, including Animal Control, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Front Street Animal Shelter, to advocate for animals in need.
- Care videos: Felice produced and published some of the earliest videos focused on the care of turtles and tortoises in captivity. Her videos can be found on her YouTube page.
Rock ' n ' Roll and a love for her Community
Felice's second love was rock ' n ' roll music, especially The Rolling Stones, Metallica, Foo Fighters, and almost anything with a Hammond B3 organ and spinning Leslie speaker. An avid keyboard player, she played at Carnegie Hall with her class as a youth, and enjoyed entertaining residents at Eskaton Greenhaven in the 1990s.
Her other passions included tending to her cactus garden, crafting, sewing, spending time on her houseboat in the delta, her beloved Siamese cat, Kevin, and always a cup of Pepsi on ice.
Felice's sense of humor was second-to-none — she could find humor in anything, and wasn't afraid to share. She was a big fan of Howard Stern, listening to his show daily, and even styling her hair to match his curly locks. She was totally one-of-a-kind and will be missed.
