Dorothy H. Helmreich, 78
Dateline: Norton, MA
Dorothy Lee Heise Helmreich, 78, passed away on January 26, 2012 at Epoch Senior Healthcare in Norton, MA, after a lengthy encounter with Parkinson’s Disease and dementia. Known to everyone as Dorolee, Mrs. Helmreich was born in New Haven, CT on September 25, 1933, the daughter of Arthur R. and Dorothy B. Heise. She graduated from Hamden High School in Hamden, CT in 1952 and Smith College in 1956, where she was a member of the College Glee Club.
While a student at Smith she met her future husband, Paul Helmreich, who was an undergraduate at nearby Amherst College. They were married in August 1956, and lived for several years in Cambridge and Belmont, MA during which time Dorolee worked for Jordan Marsh, Polaroid, the Harvard University Health Services, tutored at MacLean Hospital, and taught history at Weston High School. In 1961 she moved with her family to Norton, MA, where her husband held a position in the history department at Wheaton College.
In 1971, when the youngest of her three children entered first grade, Mrs. Helmreich reentered the work force, first at Wheaton College and then as a teacher aide in the Norton public schools. In 1975 she became a fourth grade teacher in the Norton system, teaching for many years at the L.G. Nourse School. She retired in November, 1993. Following her retirement she volunteered as a tutor for eleven years at The Literacy Center in Attleboro, MA, and served one year as a member of its Board of Directors. Until January, 2009, she was also a member of the Board of Directors of School Talk, Inc., located in Norton.
During her years in the Norton school system, Dorolee served as a Resource Teacher-Field Test Writer for Project SPOKE from 1979-1982, and as a member of the Board of the Norton Teachers Association for a number of years, including one year as Secretary and two as President of the NTA (1985-1987).
From the time she first moved to Norton until her illness became a strong impediment, Mrs. Helmreich was an active participant in community affairs in Norton. From 1962-1970 she served on the Board of Directors of the Norton League of Women Voters, including two years as President. Later she served as Area Representative in Southeastern Massachusetts for the Massachusetts State League of Women Voters. In 1982 she was a delegate from Norton to the Massachusetts State Democratic Convention.
But Dorolee was perhaps proudest of her work on a number of Norton town committees. She served on the Future School Sites Committee from 1966-1972, including three years as its Chairperson. She was a member of both the High School and Solmonese School Building Committees. She served two terms on the Norton Housing Authority, the first as Governor Dukakis’ appointee (1978-1983) and the second as an elected member. At various other times she was a member of the Norton Cultural Council, the Henri A. Yelle School Sites Committee, the Norton Historical Commission and the Board of Directors of the Land Preservation Society.
Dorolee is survived by her husband Paul, her sister Ruth Reynolds of Watertown, CT, her sons James Helmreich of Milan, NY and Alan Helmreich of Sanford, ME, her daughter Kristen Parsons of Taunton, MA, and six grandchildren, Lithia, Salena, Rae and Elizabeth Helmreich, and Finnian and Cyrus Parsons.
Visiting hours will be from 4-7pm on Wednesday, February 1, at the Norton Memorial Funeral Home, 19 Clapp Street, (Off Route 140,Taunton Avenue) in Norton. Private burial services will be held subsequently at the Timothy Plain Cemetery in Norton.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mrs. Helmreich may be made to The Literacy Center, 80 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA 02703, or to School Talk, Inc., c/o Nadjia Varney, 4 Morgan Lane, Norton, MA 02766.
For additional information, please visit www.nortonmemorial.com