Beatrice Vinton Fitts

Photo:

Beatrice Vinton Fitts

NORTHAMPTON, MA — Beatrice Vinton Fitts, 102, passed away peacefully on February 7, 2013 at the Calvin Coolidge Center, Northampton, MA. She was born on November 17, 1910 at 94 Bigelow St. Quincy, MA, to Arthur R. and Bertha F. (Rice) Fitts.

She graduated from Quincy High in 1929; from Bridgewater State College in 1933; Boston University in 1950 with an MS in education and furthered her education at Westfield State College. Her teaching career started in Holliston, MA in 1933 then at the Pollard School, Quincy, MA and at North Quincy High where she became head of the music department. In 1953, she came to Northampton, MA as head of the music department for grades one-12 retiring in 1980. She was the recipient of the MA’s Lowell Mason Award and was listed in Leaders of American Secondary Education in 1972.

She was an associate member of the Bethany Congregational Church, Quincy, MA; the Waterford Congregational Church, Waterford, and more recently a member of First Churches in Northampton. Throughout her life, she shared her love of music in various capacities with these churches. She held the position of director of music at First Baptist. For several years, she took part in the Church Musician’s Conference at the American Baptist Assembly in Green Lake, WI.

Miss Fitts was a charter member of Alpha-Epsilon chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma of Northampton; a member of the Tuesday Afternoon Club at First Churches; the Edmund Rice Assoc. and the Waterford Historical Society where she shared her love of family and history.

She enjoyed connecting with people whether through fellowship time serving tea at church or through the activities she pursued, sewing, knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, attending music/cultural programs, travel, or spending summers in her beloved Waterford.

Her heritage was very important to her. She was proud to be a descendant of the seventh settler of Waterford and returned to Waterford every year for 100 years. These trips were made possible in later years by her dear friends, Fred and Nancy Engdahl.

Special times in Waterford included participation in church/community activities, evenings with friends gathered on the village common, Fourth of July festivities, and maintaining an open door for all at Ar-Be-Do-Bea Lodge. The summer music recordings brought her much joy and comfort.

Miss Fitts is survived by first cousins, Richard F. Rice, Waterford and Rachel Rice Deans, South Portland and extended family as well as many dear friends in Quincy, Waterford and Northampton. She is predeceased by her parents; sister, Dorothy Fitts Hayden and best friend and housemate of 51 years, Dorothy Swain.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 23, at 11 a.m. at First Churches, Main St. Northampton. A memorial will be held at the Waterford Congregational Church on Saturday, August 3 at 2 p.m. Burial will be in South Waterford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Waterford Congregational Church, Waterford, ME 04088.