Dorothy Raymond

Dorothy Raymond, age 96, passed away on Saturday, May 17, 2014. Dorothy was born on November 11, 1917 to Annie Parry MacLean and Harry MacLean who had immigrated to the United States from England and Ireland, respectively. She and her younger brother, Harry, spent most of their childhood in Long Island, New York. Dorothy’s early childhood education was in a two-room elementary school. In 1935, she graduated from Huntington High School. On the basis of her artistic talent, she was offered a college scholarship to the University of Pittsburg. Instead, she attended State University in Albany New York and earned a B. A. with a double major in History and Math. Dorothy continued her education at Teacher’s College Columbia University where in 1940 she earned a master’s degree in Personnel Administration. After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard SPARs from 1944 to 1947, she obtained a Doctoral Degree in Psychology from Temple University in Philadelphia. Dorothy was an educator for her entire career. After teaching high school history classes in Freeport, New York she took a teaching position in Zacapu, Mexico where she taught several different grades and became fluent in Spanish. Dorothy also worked in reading clinics at the University of Florida, Temple University, and the University of Delaware. Between 1952 and 1988 she was a school psychologist and director of the reading program in the public school system in Waterville, Maine. In 1951 she married Harold Raymond, whom she met when both were teaching at the University of Delaware. The next year they moved to Waterville, Maine where Harold taught history at Colby College. Shortly after they retired, Dorothy and her husband moved to Evansville, where they were warmly welcomed by the residents and caring staff at the Communities of Solarbron. Dorothy authored three books. The subject of her first two publications is reading comprehension. Dorothy’s third book is a mystery whose main character is, of course, a school teacher. Dorothy had many hobbies including origami, crafting stained glass objects, bird watching, archeology, and playing bells at the First Congregational Church in Waterville. She was also an accomplished musician having learned to play the trumpet in high school and the guitar while living in Mexico. But her passion was reading. While an avid and eclectic reader herself, she was particularly interested in teaching children with learning challenges this important skill. One of her most gratifying moments came when she ran across a former student who greeted her with the words: “You taught me to read.” Dr. Dorothy Raymond is survived by her son, Dr. Paul Raymond and wife, Elizabeth, of Evansville, Indiana, two grandchildren, Hannah and Jonas, a nephew, Bill, and two nieces, Joanne and Susan. No memorial service or visitation is planned. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choosing.

Dorothy Raymond

November 11, 1917 - May 17, 2014