Mary-Louise Dorpalen

1949 - 2016

Mary-Louise Dorpalen died on Saturday, January 23, 2016, at Hartford Hospital after a two-year struggle with a recurrence of cancer. Mary was born in Hartford, CT, on October 13, 1949. She grew up in West Hartford, graduating from Hall High School. She devoted her professional life to special education, retiring as Director of Pupil Personnel Services for the Canton Board of Education in 2014. Mary received her bachelor's degree from Earlham College, where she met her husband, Peter Dorpalen. She received her master's degree and additional training in special education from Southern Connecticut State University. Mary began her professional career as a special education teacher with the Capitol Region Education Council and Canton High School. She went on to become a supervisor of special education in Region 10 in Burlington, CT, before returning to Canton as an administrator. Mary took on many leadership positions. Recently she served as chair of ConnCASE (CT Council of Administrators of Special Education); chair of CASA (CT Association of School Administrators), an organization she helped bring back as a resource for administrators; chair of the Administrative Association of Canton; and a member of the Farmington Valley Directors. In Mary's honor, Canton Public Schools has established the Mary Dorpalen Scholarship Fund, to be awarded to a high school senior planning to pursue a career in special education. Mary is survived by her husband of 43 years, Peter Dorpalen of Farmington; her brother David Roberts of Windsor; her daughter and son-in-law Erica and Tyler Hanson of Wallingford; and her grandson Nathan Hanson. Her son, Nathan Dorpalen, predeceased her. Those who knew Mary will remember her for her strength, and for her dedication to the students and staff she served. Mary brought the same energy and devotion to her family and personal life. For 40-plus years, Mary and her husband avidly pursued hiking, bicycling, backpacking, skiing, and travel together, interests they shared with their children. She served as chair of the CT chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club, and she was active in the choir and bell choir at the First Church of Christ, Congregational, in Farmington. A memorial service and reception will be held at the First Church of Christ, Congregational in Farmington on Saturday, February 6, at 1PM and will be followed by a gathering at the Dorpalen home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mary Dorpalen Scholarship Fund, c/o Canton Dollars for Scholars, Canton High School, 76 Simonds Ave., Canton, CT 06019; to the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center Fund (https://giving.harthosp.org/donate); or to the First Church of Christ, Congregational, 1652, 75 Main Street, Farmington, CT 06032.