Dolores H. Stein, 98, died peacefully at her Alford, Massachusetts home on August 1, 2016.
Born on May 1, 1918 in Jersey City, New Jersey she was the daughter of Benjamin and Victoria Wash and granddaughter of Polish immigrants. She graduated from Lincoln High School in Jersey City and, having earned a full scholarship, was the first in her family to graduate from college, receiving a BA in History from the New Jersey College for Women, now Douglass Residential College of Rutgers University.
After college, rather than continue her schooling she joined the workforce at Sears, Roebuck and Company. There she met her husband Elmer Stein. They were married August 29, 1942, had their first child, a son, in 1943. Elmer served in the European Theater during WWII. After the war, another child, a daughter, was born and they moved to Valley Stream, Long Island in 1953.
Yearning to become a teacher, Dolores went back to night school in Brooklyn and became certified to teach. She began as a fourth grade teacher in 1956 and taught for 17 years in the Valley Stream public schools. For ten of those years she taught French in the Parlons Français program. Her year spent in the French house at college proved to be invaluable for this initiative. One of her first students, Naomi Miller, became a lifelong friend and “second daughter” to her.
Planning for retirement and also looking for a weekend retreat, Dolores and Elmer found the perfect spot in Alford, Massachusetts. In 1969 they purchased a small house on 31/2 acres and fell in love with the Berkshires.
When Elmer retired from Sears in 1981, they moved fulltime to Alford and became active members of the community, volunteering and joining several groups. Dolores was a member of the Alford Garden Club, winning their Recognition Award and given an honorary lifetime membership in her later years. She also volunteered and was a trustee at the Alford Library. They never missed the Alford Volunteer Fire Department’s Pancake Breakfasts, and became friends with many of their neighbors in this small village.
A lifelong learner and avid reader, Dolores took several literature courses at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, all taught by her beloved professor, Dr. Bernard Rodgers. She always wanted to learn more.
After Elmer died in 1996, Dolores remained in Alford and grew even more active in the community, joining the newly formed Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire. She supported many humanitarian causes, among them a program for Nepalese children, Hands in Outreach, that she greatly encouraged. She supported many other social justice causes and community organizations such as Gould Farm, Construct, and People’s Pantry.
When she finally realized she had to give up driving, she started taking the senior van to the Claire Teague Senior Center in Great Barrington. There she made many more friends as she attended exercise classes twice a week. She was always very grateful for this van service and appreciated the care and friendship of the drivers.
Dolores, known as Dolly to her childhood friends, is survived by her son Gary Stein and wife Holly of Seattle, Wash.; her daughter Susan Cassel and husband Christopher of Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.; her grandchildren Dr. Sarah Cassel and husband Greg Abate of N. Andover, Mass.; her grandson Ben Stein and wife Janet Kim of Los Angeles, Calif.; her step-grandsons Alex and Matthew Chakoian of Seattle, Wash.; and her great-grandchildren Liliana and Bodhin Abate. She was predeceased by her husband Elmer Stein and her brother George Wash.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 13 at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire at 1089 Main St. in Housatonic.
Calling hours will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, August 12 at the FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME at 426 Main St. in Great Barrington.
Donations in her name may be made to the Southern Berkshire Elderly Transportation Corporation, the Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire, or the Alford Fire Department through the FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to her family or sign the guestbook go to www.finnertyandstevens.com
