SUBMITTED OBITUARY
Ina S. Ginsberg
January 26, 1935 – December 12, 2025
Ina S. Ginsberg was born on January 26, 1935, in Boston, Massachusetts, and passed away on December 12, 2025, in Aiken, South Carolina, with her family and friends at her side. She was 90 years old—though anyone who knew her knows she stopped aging somewhere around “don’t tell me I can’t.”
Ina was the daughter of Dave and Fredia Smith and sister to her late brother, Robert P. Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold Ginsberg, just short of what would have been their 69th wedding anniversary. Rest assured, she noticed—and would have mentioned it.
She is survived by her son, Allen; her daughter-in-law, Patty; and her grandsons, Ben and Jack. Allen made it a point to call his mother every day and never let more than 60 days pass without visiting her, even though he was in Arizona. Still, she often wondered if he came to see her or to play golf instead. She always looked forward to dressing up and going out to dinner with him during his visits. In her last words, she expressed immense pride in Allen for being a good son, for finding Patty as his soulmate, and for her role in raising two remarkable boys. She was incredibly proud of Ben and Jack and how they grew up to be such outstanding young men! Throughout her life, she believed in the virtues of hard work, maintained that quitting was not an option, and saw making excuses as a sign of weakness. These were the principles she aimed to cultivate within her family.
Ina lived a life that could only be described as relentlessly full. From her 20s through her 40s, she was a well-known and respected Cocker Spaniel breeder, “Juniper Farms, producing dogs that were beautifully built, impeccably trained, and—frankly—set the bar uncomfortably high for everyone else.
Her competitive nature found its true soulmate in horses. Ina was an accomplished equestrian rider, competing in dressage, show jumping, show hunting, and fox hunting during the 1970’s at Elm Brook Farm in Concord, Mass. In 1984, she and Arnold traded her English saddle for a Western one and bought a five-acre horse property to keep trail horses. She was part of the renowned women’s trail-riding group, The Saddle Bags, based in Cave Creek, AZ.
In her mid-50s, Ina purchased The Buckhorn Ranch in Golconda, Nevada, with her own money, turned it into a full-blown dude ranch, and ran between 500 and 1,000 head of cattle across a mix of private and deeded land covering 32 square miles. This was her version of “slowing down.”
Somewhere in between running a ranch, Ina also worked with local and national Miss Rodeo contestants, mentoring them with a style best described as direct, compelling, and unforgettable.
Missing competition just enough to be dangerous, Ina took up halter horse competition while approaching her 60s. Naturally, she did not ease into it. Her fierce competitiveness earned her 14 High Points and 2 World Champions, leaving a trail of trophies, ribbons, and slightly shaken competitors.
This past year, at 90 years old, Ina showed twice and in September of this year won Grand Champion under all four judges, proving that retirement is optional and intimidation is timeless.
After Arnold passed in 2017, and well into her 80s, Ina once again refused to sit still. She packed up and headed east to be near her beloved trainer, Jeffrey Pait of Pait Horses, because proximity to her halter horses was clearly non-negotiable. She went on to earn five more High Points, just in case anyone thought the story was wrapping up.
Ina was a founding member of “The Aiken AQHA Ladies,” a group known for weekly ladies’ nights. But the crown jewel of her social calendar was Sunday dinner for her extended crew—lovingly known as “Team Ina.” Attendance often reached 15 people, and the food was always excellent, plentiful, and served with strong opinions.
Ina mastered cooking, baking, and canning, fully believing that if something could be done, she could do it better—and probably already had.
Her most outstanding achievement, however, came after Arnold’s passing. Instead of staying home alone, Ina chose one more adventure and built a new family of friends who became central to her life. These included her neighbors George and Suzy, Rob & Kari, as well as Donna McLoughlin, Bruce & Donette Covar, and Pat and Bill Chaney. Ina and Pat logged over 50,000 miles driving to horse shows—proving that friendship, like competition, requires commitment.
Chris Thompson ensured Ina was always surrounded by love, handmade treasures featuring her dogs and horses, and photographs of her achievements and family—because Ina believed accomplishments should be displayed appropriately.
Then there was the unquestioned Captain of Team Ina, Bronwyn Pait, who became like a daughter to her. There isn’t enough space to capture everything she did or the role she played in Ina’s final chapter, which just might have been her best.
Allen will never be able to fully express his gratitude to Team Ina for everything they did for her.
Ultimately, Ina was the true “Dog Whisperer,” with her most loyal companions, Annie and Martini, by her side—two dogs who never questioned who was in charge and were always there for her. In Ina’s final week, she craved companionship, and her attentive dogs sensed her needs. They sought out Allen for help and then showered Ina with love and affection. Ina may be gone, but she will not be forgotten. She lived with “True Grit,” unmatched drive, and a refusal to accept limits—especially the ones people tried to give her. There’s so much to share that it could fill a novel or a movie!
If there’s a scoreboard wherever she is now, rest assured: Ina’s name is at the top!
Instead of flowers, please donate to Curing Kids Cancer. https://curingkidscancer.org/donate/for-loved-one
We invite you to join us in celebrating the life of the family.
(Heavy Hors d’oeuvres)
Details of the Celebration of Life:
- Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Location: Green Boundary Club, 780 Whiskey Rd., Aiken, SC 29801
Please RSVP by emailing us at 1961atg@gmail.com with the number of attendees in your party.