25 Feb 2009 Susan Getchell (Dolber)
MARSHFIELD – It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Susan (Dolber) Getchell, who passed away Feb. 25, 2009, while surrounded by her loving family, after a short, courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Susan was born April 18, 1937, in Melrose, Mass., to the late Clifford O. and Mildred (Winn) Dolber. Sue graduated from Melrose High School and in 2005 was inducted into the Melrose High School Athletic Hall of Fame. She received a Bachelor of Education from Bridgewater State College and a Master of Education from North Adams State College. She began teaching in the North Adams public school system before raising her children, and then returned to a career in education at North Adams State College, now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, where she was an associate professor. Sue 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. After retiring from coaching, she continued to teach and served as chairperson of the physical education department at North Adams State. During her last 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. Sue valued both spirituality and religion, and was involved in many church related activities. Sue was a member of Centre Street Congregational Church, Machias, where she was a member of the chancel choir, church treasurer and a member of various boards and committees. Sue married the love of her life, Walter Lee Getchell, Dec. 27, 1959. The couple then moved to western Massachusetts and spent the remainder of their working years teaching in North Adams and Williamstown, Mass., before retiring to Marshfield in 1998. Sue is survived by her husband Walter; and four children, Karen FAlkenham and husband, Bernie, of Ballantynes Cove, Nova Scotia, Dr. Nancy Getchellk of Wilmington, Del., Linda Moses and husband, Wlater, of Bennington, Vt., and Robert Getchell and partner Ronald Jansen, of Le Boulard, France; grandchildren, Emily and Jeremy Falkenham, Cai Moses; one sister, Jill REynolds of Chicago; two sisters-in-law, Bernice Dolber and Sybil Dolber; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; and two brothers, Clifford O. Dolber Jr. and Riarch W. Dolber. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.