MCLA/NASC Loses a Legend
Susan (Dolber) Getchell of Marshfield, Maine, formerly of Melrose, died February 25, 2009, while surrounded by her loving family, after a short, courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis.
Susan Getchell
Fri Feb 27, 2009, 12:53 PM EST
Melrose - Susan Getchell
Susan (Dolber) Getchell of Marshfield, Maine, formerly of
Melrose, died February 25, 2009, while surrounded by her loving
family, after a short, courageous battle with pulmonary
fibrosis.
She was born in Melrose on April 18, 1937, daughter of the late
Clifford O. and Mildred (Winn) Dolber.
Mrs. Getchell graduated from Melrose High School, and in 2005, she
was inducted into the Melrose High School Athletic Hall of
Fame.
She received a Bachelor of Education degree from Bridgewater State
College and a Master of Education degree from North Adams State
College. She began teaching in the North Adams public school system
before raising her children, and then she returned to a career in
education at North Adams State College (now Massachusetts College
of Liberal Arts), where she was an associate professor.
Mrs. Getchell had a lifelong love of sports and physical activity.
She was an early pioneer in the area of women’s sports and
began teaching and coaching women’s athletics at North Adams
State College before Title IX became law. She spent 20 years
coaching a variety of sports, including field hockey, softball,
gymnastics and soccer. Last year, MCLA recognized her amazing
contributions to women's athletics at the College and named their
female student-athlete of the
year award in her honor.
After retiring from coaching, she continued to teach and served as
the chairwoman of the physical education department at North Adams
State. During her last two years at the college, she served as
director of the Susan B. Anthony Women’s Center.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts honored her by electing her
to its Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.
Mrs. Getchell valued both spirituality and religion and was
involved in many church related activities. She was a member of the
Centre Street Congregational Church in Machias, Maine, where she
was a member of the chancel choir, church treasurer and a member of
various boards and committees.
She married the love of her life, Walter Lee Getchell, on December
27, 1959. The couple then moved to western Massachusetts and spent
the remainder of their working years teaching in North Adams and
Williamstown before retiring to Marshfield, Maine, in 1998.
Mrs. Getchell is survived by her husband, Walter; four children,
Karen Falkenham and her husband, Bernie, of Ballantynes Cove, Nova
Scotia, Canada, Dr. Nancy Getchell of Wilmington, Del., Linda Moses
and her husband, Walter, of Bennington, Vt., and Robert Getchell
and his partner, Ronald Jansen, of Le Boulard, France; her
grandchildren, Emily and Jeremy Falkenham and Cai Moses; one
sister, Jill Reynolds, of Chicago, Ill.; two sisters-in-law,
Bernice Dolber and Sybil Dolber; and several nieces and
nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by two brothers,
Clifford O. Dolber Jr. and Richard W. Dolber.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Arrangements
are under the care of Bragdon-Kelley Funeral Home, Machias,
Maine.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Centre Street
Congregational Church, P.O. Box 265, Machias, ME 04654.
Condolences may be sent at www.bragdonkelley.com.
