Dorothea Isabel Pye Simon

SIMON
DOROTHEA ISABEL PYE
Born April 15, 1913 in Chico, CA, died at home in Oakland on August 15, 2002, predeceased by husband, Herbert A. Simon in 2001; loving and supportive mother of Katherine Frank (Richard Kain) of Minneapolis, MN, Peter Simon of Pittsburgh and Barbara Simon (Bruce Bender) of Wilder, VT; grandmother of Matthew (Kathleen Shannon) and Rachel Frank, Helen (Mike Langeslay), Karen (Tim Saukiavicus) and Susan Kain; Peter and Andrew (Gayle) Simon, Evan and Alison Bender; great-grandmother of Brianna, Blake, Kelly Makaya, Karissa, Carter, Andreas, Alasia and Anya; cousins, nieces, nephews and dear, loyal friends. Dorothea earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and Master's degree in political science from the University of Chicago. While employed at the University of Chicago, she met Herbert. They married in 1937. In 1949 they relocated to Pittsburgh (Squirrel Hill) and to Oakland in 1996. Dorothea was active in the League of Women Voters, the Weavers Guild and Girl Scouting in the 1950's. In addition she found a very supportive community at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh and its Women's Alliance where she served on the board of Directors of both, as well as their committees, for many years. She was a supporter of Craig House for Children and served on its Board, also. Throughout her years in Pittsburgh, she was an active member of the Carnegie Mellon University Women's Club. She earned a second Master's Degree in Education from the University of Pittsburgh and found her chief interest in educational research. At the Learning Resources Development Center (LRDC) at the University of Pittsburgh, Dorothea tested a computerized spelling program to understand how children learn to spell, research that she subsequently published. Dorothea was an avid reader. She enjoyed gardening and playing bridge, as well as the intellectual stimulation of foreign travel, her husband's work, and book discussions. She was fond of and accomplished at several fiber arts hand techniques: sewing, weaving, knitting, crocheting, and embroidery, resulting in beautiful objects and clothing that graced her home and her family's. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be made to the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, Craig Academy of Watson Institute, Carnegie Mellon University for student scholarships, Family Hospice and Palliative Care, Rails to Trails, or a charity of the donor's choice. A memorial service celebrating Dorothea Simon's life will be held Sat., Sept. 14, 2002 at 1pm at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, Ellsworth and Morewood Avenues, Oakland. Arrangements by H. SAMSON, INC.
www.hsamsoninc.com
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