Obituary for Marilyn M. "Mitzi" Dickson
Marilyn "Mitzi" (Mitchell) Dickson, 96, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 16, 2022 in her Boothbay Harbor home surrounded by family.
Born in Farmington, Maine in her grandparent's house to Therese (Metcalf) Mitchell and Carroll (Sumner) Mitchell, Marilyn was an only child. She grew up in Augusta, Maine, attended Nash School and Cony High School. As a 1944 graduate of Cony High School she was a school leader who participated on different athletic teams (basketball, field hockey, volleyball, softball, bowling, and ping pong). She was the Editor in Chief of the Coniad yearbook, a member of Student Council, in the National Honor Society, in the Latin Club, on Student Council, Class Secretary and Vice President, and always had stories about planning the Chizzle Wizzle dance being in the Sock and Buskin Club, and reporting for the Cony Cue. After graduating from Cony High School, she headed to Wheaton College in Massachusetts in the fall of 1944.
At Wheaton, Marilyn continued to be active in student life, was a class officer, and became class president. After graduation in 1948, she continued as a class officer until 1968 helping to plan reunions and attending them with her classmates. She attended both her 50th and 55th reunions. She was an active alumna and had a special place in her heart for Wheaton College. With a BA in English from Wheaton, ready to fulfill her dream of becoming an English teacher, she moved to New York City with several college friends. She first taught at Staten Island Academy, then later at Garden Country Day School on Long Island. With her spirited style and enthusiasm, she encouraged her students to participate in the newspaper and in student theater.
She met and married Douglas G. Dickson (1924-2011) while she taught English and also earned her Masters Degree at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her husband earned his PhD in Mathematics at Columbia University while teaching classes there and at Barnard and Hunter Colleges. Her husband was a big band jazz drummer and often played gigs in the city. They both loved live jazz and the culture of New York City. After the birth of their first child, Stephen, the family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where Douglas became a professor of mathematics at the University of Michigan. Two years later they had a daughter, Susan. In Ann Arbor, Mitzi was involved with the Faculty Women's Club, belonged to several book clubs, was a member of the YMCA, and played tennis among other activities. Mitzi was a volunteer at the University of Michigan Museum of Art and had a keen eye for good art. She and her husband were regulars at the home football games with season tickets for over 25 years. She enjoyed social gatherings with colleagues, friends, faculty, and neighbors.
Marilyn and Douglas had a strong affinity for France and crossed the Atlantic Ocean twice with the family on the SS France. Over the years they had three extended stays in Paris and the French Alps. Marilyn also traveled to England, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Yugoslavia (now Croatia), Canada, Mexico, Russia, and China.
After her children were in college and high school, Marilyn returned to teaching English, first as a substitute, then as a teacher at Forsythe Middle School, teaching seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. She was both popular with students and faculty and ran a tight ship with high expectations in the classroom. Her enthusiasm for her work was evident on all fronts. It was common to be out and about in Ann Arbor, even after she retired, and encounter former students. Often they told her she was the best teacher they ever had for English and that she prepared them well for high school English and careers. She was beloved by colleagues, students, friends, and family.
Marilyn and her family spent summers in Boothbay Harbor, Maine beginning 1936, first in a house on Spruce Point, and then, after August 1951 through the summer of 2022, on Tumbler Island. She had 70 wonderful summers on the island. Mitzi had a strong, "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" Maine spirit. She always said her favorite words in the English language were "summer day." She had a true love for this harbor. Mitzi was an avid sailor and competed in the Boothbay Harbor One Design races and skippered her boat the Gaviota, and later Gaviota II, in the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club Saturday races when she was younger, and later in the Tuesday Ladies Races with her daughter as her crew. She also enjoyed playing tennis with the Women's Tennis group at the Yacht Club making lifelong friends. Welcoming to all, Mitzi was always up for a social lunch, dinner, or cocktails on the back porch with family and friends.
Marilyn was predeceased by her parents, Therese and Carroll, her husband Douglas, and many dear friends. She is survived by her son Stephen Dickson, daughter Susan Dickson, and two grandsons, Mitchell Dickson and Nathaniel Dickson. In addition, she is survived by her beloved sister-in-law Joan F. Dickson, four nephews, and a niece. In her later years, she returned to live in Maine with her son in Augusta and later with her daughter in Boothbay Harbor. She came full circle.
Marilyn's family would like to thank the caregivers from Above and Beyond Scheduling Services of Boothbay Harbor, especially Vicki, Yvonne, Missy, and Weni who helped with her care over the past several years.
A private family memorial service will be held in 2023.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Marilyn's name to the Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund, Rebuilding Together, or Wheaton College.
Donations may be made to the Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund in memory of Mitzi Dickson
PO Box 293, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538-0293 https://www.brsaf.org/
Donations may be made to Rebuilding Together - Lincoln County in memory of Mitzi Dickson PO Box 22, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538-0022
https://www.rebuildingtogether-lc.org/donate
Donations may be made to Wheaton College in memory of Marilyn Mitchell Dickson, Class of 1948 https:llwheatoncollege.edu/giving/ways-to-give/
Special thanks to Mike and Liz Hall and the Hall Funeral Home for going beyond the regular call of duty. Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Crematory in Boothbay. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
Born in Farmington, Maine in her grandparent's house to Therese (Metcalf) Mitchell and Carroll (Sumner) Mitchell, Marilyn was an only child. She grew up in Augusta, Maine, attended Nash School and Cony High School. As a 1944 graduate of Cony High School she was a school leader who participated on different athletic teams (basketball, field hockey, volleyball, softball, bowling, and ping pong). She was the Editor in Chief of the Coniad yearbook, a member of Student Council, in the National Honor Society, in the Latin Club, on Student Council, Class Secretary and Vice President, and always had stories about planning the Chizzle Wizzle dance being in the Sock and Buskin Club, and reporting for the Cony Cue. After graduating from Cony High School, she headed to Wheaton College in Massachusetts in the fall of 1944.
At Wheaton, Marilyn continued to be active in student life, was a class officer, and became class president. After graduation in 1948, she continued as a class officer until 1968 helping to plan reunions and attending them with her classmates. She attended both her 50th and 55th reunions. She was an active alumna and had a special place in her heart for Wheaton College. With a BA in English from Wheaton, ready to fulfill her dream of becoming an English teacher, she moved to New York City with several college friends. She first taught at Staten Island Academy, then later at Garden Country Day School on Long Island. With her spirited style and enthusiasm, she encouraged her students to participate in the newspaper and in student theater.
She met and married Douglas G. Dickson (1924-2011) while she taught English and also earned her Masters Degree at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her husband earned his PhD in Mathematics at Columbia University while teaching classes there and at Barnard and Hunter Colleges. Her husband was a big band jazz drummer and often played gigs in the city. They both loved live jazz and the culture of New York City. After the birth of their first child, Stephen, the family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where Douglas became a professor of mathematics at the University of Michigan. Two years later they had a daughter, Susan. In Ann Arbor, Mitzi was involved with the Faculty Women's Club, belonged to several book clubs, was a member of the YMCA, and played tennis among other activities. Mitzi was a volunteer at the University of Michigan Museum of Art and had a keen eye for good art. She and her husband were regulars at the home football games with season tickets for over 25 years. She enjoyed social gatherings with colleagues, friends, faculty, and neighbors.
Marilyn and Douglas had a strong affinity for France and crossed the Atlantic Ocean twice with the family on the SS France. Over the years they had three extended stays in Paris and the French Alps. Marilyn also traveled to England, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Yugoslavia (now Croatia), Canada, Mexico, Russia, and China.
After her children were in college and high school, Marilyn returned to teaching English, first as a substitute, then as a teacher at Forsythe Middle School, teaching seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. She was both popular with students and faculty and ran a tight ship with high expectations in the classroom. Her enthusiasm for her work was evident on all fronts. It was common to be out and about in Ann Arbor, even after she retired, and encounter former students. Often they told her she was the best teacher they ever had for English and that she prepared them well for high school English and careers. She was beloved by colleagues, students, friends, and family.
Marilyn and her family spent summers in Boothbay Harbor, Maine beginning 1936, first in a house on Spruce Point, and then, after August 1951 through the summer of 2022, on Tumbler Island. She had 70 wonderful summers on the island. Mitzi had a strong, "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" Maine spirit. She always said her favorite words in the English language were "summer day." She had a true love for this harbor. Mitzi was an avid sailor and competed in the Boothbay Harbor One Design races and skippered her boat the Gaviota, and later Gaviota II, in the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club Saturday races when she was younger, and later in the Tuesday Ladies Races with her daughter as her crew. She also enjoyed playing tennis with the Women's Tennis group at the Yacht Club making lifelong friends. Welcoming to all, Mitzi was always up for a social lunch, dinner, or cocktails on the back porch with family and friends.
Marilyn was predeceased by her parents, Therese and Carroll, her husband Douglas, and many dear friends. She is survived by her son Stephen Dickson, daughter Susan Dickson, and two grandsons, Mitchell Dickson and Nathaniel Dickson. In addition, she is survived by her beloved sister-in-law Joan F. Dickson, four nephews, and a niece. In her later years, she returned to live in Maine with her son in Augusta and later with her daughter in Boothbay Harbor. She came full circle.
Marilyn's family would like to thank the caregivers from Above and Beyond Scheduling Services of Boothbay Harbor, especially Vicki, Yvonne, Missy, and Weni who helped with her care over the past several years.
A private family memorial service will be held in 2023.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Marilyn's name to the Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund, Rebuilding Together, or Wheaton College.
Donations may be made to the Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund in memory of Mitzi Dickson
PO Box 293, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538-0293 https://www.brsaf.org/
Donations may be made to Rebuilding Together - Lincoln County in memory of Mitzi Dickson PO Box 22, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538-0022
https://www.rebuildingtogether-lc.org/donate
Donations may be made to Wheaton College in memory of Marilyn Mitchell Dickson, Class of 1948 https:llwheatoncollege.edu/giving/ways-to-give/
Special thanks to Mike and Liz Hall and the Hall Funeral Home for going beyond the regular call of duty. Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Crematory in Boothbay. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.