But for those who did not get to meet her, including grandchildren who may be born in the future, the bird sanctuary created in her honor will provide a spot where they can become acquainted with the essence of this remarkable woman.

Perhaps as testament to the long reach of her impact on life, more than 200 people gathered for the dedication of the Amy Clark/Bader bird sanctuary and the Lodge at Deer Haven Preserve in Delaware County on Sunday afternoon.

The lodge is a new, spacious, airy building on the 97-acre preserve. Inside are offices and meeting spaces, an inviting stone fireplace, and a library that is part of Amy's contribution.

Outside the many windows are bird houses and feeders that attract many species of birds. The land includes woods, ravines, meadows and wetlands, all of which can be reached on a trail through the land.

The land was dedicated to Preservation Parks by Phyllis Havener and her family. The 3,500 square foot building was paid for by tax money, grants, and the donation from John Bader Jr., who was Amy's husband.

She would have been thrilled with the turnout at the dedication, where hundreds of family, friends, and caregivers from all over the country came to see the sanctuary and to remember Amy, who died in January 2005 after a 16-year battle with a neurological disorder.

Amy helped plan the sanctuary before she died, Bader said.

"Amy said she might never see her grandchildren, so I said let's have a place where they can feel her spirit."

Amy's life was a testament to courage, spirit and hope, according to those who gathered on Sunday. They said she was an inspiration to everyone she met.

She was born Amy McHendry and grew up in Maine and Minnesota swimming, sailing, and learning to love animals and music.

Her passion was teaching children with learning disabilities. She had a master's degree in special education for teaching the hearing impaired. For many years, she taught and coached at the Ohio School for the Deaf.

After being diagnosed in 1989, she continued to teach from a wheelchair. She was named Educator of the Year in 1993-94 by the Columbus PTA.

In 1996, she was named a community hero and carried the torch for the Olympics. Pictures show her carrying the flame from her wheelchair as she moved down High Street in Worthington.

She was also a single parent who raised two daughters, each of whom graduated with honors from college.

As she lost her physical abilities, Amy mastered a voice-activated computer, and eventually used her eyebrows to write children's books about birds.

As her health declined, her greatest enjoyment came from observing the birds that visited the 26 feeders outside her bedside window.

One of her last writings was a poem to her daughters. She told them to "meditate, smile, laugh, and sing, being grateful for every moment of life."

As one looked around the bird sanctuary of which she dreamed, it was obvious that she lived the last words of that poem.

"Leave the world a better place because of your presence. Always have hope and, above all, never, ever give up."