Obituary of Marjorie Doolittle

Glenville-Marjorie Thompson Doolittle entered into eternal rest on December 19, 2009, near her 105th birthday. Marjorie was the daughter of Edward and Ethel Thompson and was born at home in Brooklyn, New York during a blizzard, December 25, 1904. The doctor arrived by horse drawn trolley. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College in 1926, Marjorie majored in Economics and Statistics, and married Alden H. Doolittle, on October 29, 1927. They were married 57 years and raised 5 children. She was predeceased by her husband, her daughter Marcia (David) Chipman, New Bedford, MA, son David H. (Virginia) Doolittle of the Woodlands, TX, and son and daughter-in-law Lawrence and Kathryn of Castleton, NY, and grandson Mark B. Doolittle, and great-granddaughter Stephanie Doolittle. She is survived by her sons Alden (Gay) Doolittle of Scotia, NY and Phillip (Judith) Doolittle, Cle Elum, WA, ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren Mrs. Doolittle moved to the area in 1930, residing in Nassau, and Schenectady. An active member of the Methodist Church in these communities, she served in a number of leadership capacities. Of note in the 1960's and 1970's she initiated and co-chaired a Scholarship Fund for minority college students. Over her tenure, which continued until she was 89, eighty students received scholarships. The program continues to be a source of support for young people in the region. Always an active person, Mrs. Doolittle traveled extensively in all 50 states, and Canadian Provinces, and enjoyed swimming at 58 beaches on both US coasts, the Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii and the South China Sea. An avid swimmer, she was successful at the age of 88 in winning two gold medals in swimming at the Senior Olympics. She enjoyed playing bridge, gardening and spending time at her summer home at Spring Lake in the Taconic Mountains near Berlin, NY. She loved the Village of Nassau, NY. She continued to write music and poetry, read, and played the piano and organ past her 100th Birthday. Many local churches have sung her "Hymn for a New Age" inspired by space exploration. In her sixties and seventies, she wrote three musical comedies. One "Colorado Springtime" was produced locally and off Broadway in 1973. The day Colorado Springtime premiered was declared "Grandma Mozart Day" by the Rennselaer County Legislature. Members of the cast of Riverway Productions, led by Mr. Martin Kelly who produced the original show, entertained guests at her 100th Birthday party. The family wishes to extend great appreciation to Carolyn Willoughby, Doris Alois and the staff of C-4 at the Glendale Home for their extraordinary kind, capable and tender care over the last three years. A graveside service and internment will take place in Northfield, MA at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Grace Methodist Church, Box 45, Nassau, NY 12123 or the Minority Scholarship Fund, Troy Conference of the Methodist Church, 396 Loudon Road, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.