Lois C. Goutman

Lois C. Goutman, noted educator and theatre director, died on Jan. 16, 2010 in Philadelphia after a brief illness. She was 86 years old and lived in Rosemont. Born Lois Amelia Nosich in Clairton, Pa., she studied acting at Carnegie-Mellon University (then Carnegie Tech). After graduation, she acted extensively in repertory at the Woodstock Playhouse and the Chapel Playhouse, using her stage name, "Lois Clair." She was also seen in productions in Hollywood at the Actors' Lab and with the Circle Players. In New York she appeared in the Broadway production of The Tempest. She was also a featured singer in nightclubs, often accompanied by Pittsburgh native and jazz legend Errol Garner, and on radio. In 1947 she met and married artist Dolya Goutman. The following year they moved to Philadelphia, where Dolya continued his career as a painter and joined the Moore College of Art faculty and Lois began an illustrious teaching career at the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr that lasted 42 years. During that time she directed many local theatre productions and also performed as an actor and singer. Before she retired from Baldwin in 1993, she received many accolades as an educator, chief among them the Rosamond Cross Teaching Chair at Baldwin and the Olmstead Prize in Secondary School Teaching presented by Williams College. Since her husband's death in 2001, Lois continued to stay active in the theatre, performing readings and directing, most recently at Surrey Services for Seniors in Berwyn. Lois is survived by her three sons, Andrew, Christopher and Thomas and three grandchildren, Yvonne, Nicholas and Alexandra. A funeral mass will be held at St. Thomas of Villanova Church on Villanova Campus on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 at 10:30 a.m., where the family will receive guests after 10 a.m. Interment Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in Lois Goutman's name to The Baldwin School, 701 Montgomery Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. Chadwick & McKinney Funeral Home (www.chadwickmckinney.com).