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Duxbury High School Marblehead High School Boston University

Dorothy Miles Obituary

Dorothy Miles was born February 27, 1916 in Marblehead, MA and died on March 7, 2010 in Bedford, TX. Her parents were the late Hansie Hooper and Edwin Fogg. Her husband was the late Vincent L. Miles. Dorothy graduated from Marblehead schools, received a Bachelors degree cum laude from BU and a fellowship for one-year of advanced study at the Universities of Marburg and Heidelberg in Germany. She taught English at Duxbury High School and Sandwich High School before being appointed to the English Department of Marblehead High School in 1949. Taking Sabbatical leave in 1967, Dorothy made a study of emerging non-traditional methods of teaching high school English and returned with an innovative approach called the Deck Plan. Instead of the traditional English program, the Deck Plan gave Marblehead students the choice of 42 English courses and was credited with helping students remain in school during the high drop-out period of the Sixties. Variations of the Deck Plan were successfully implemented in many other school systems. After retiring in 1975, as a lover of American history and local history in particular, she authored five books: Church of Our Fathers, The Revival of a Marblehead Mansion, The Wizard of Orne Hill, The Marblehead Hoopers, and Dreams of Glory. Dorothy was a life member of Marblehead Historical Society, the Marblehead Arts Assn., Friends of Abbot Library, OMIA, Cape Cod Museum of Fine Art, St Marys Episcopal Church, Cape Cod Writers Assn., North Shore Organ Society, the Ralph Lowell Society Peabody Essex Institute, English First, Retired Mass. Teachers Assoc., and the National Council Teachers of English. She served as Sr. Warden and historian of St. Michaels Church and for many years served on the Board of Directors of the Lyric Stage in Boston. She leaves two sons, Peter Hooper Miles and wife Barbara of Dallas, Texas and Michael Vincent Miles of Marblehead; three grandchildren, Noel Marie Miles of Denver, CO, Peter Hooper Miles, Jr. and wife Linda of Roseville, CA, and Elizabeth Miles Roussos and husband Jason of Austin, TX; and two great grandchildren Keira Miles and Ian Roussos. Visitation and prayers were held at Shannon Rose Hill Funeral Home in Fort Worth, TX for family and friends on March 20, 2010. A Funeral Service is to be held at St. Michaels Episcopal Church, 26 Pleasant Street, Marblehead on April 5, 2010 at 11:00A.M. Burial to follow in Waterside Cemetery, Marblehead. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to St. Michaels Church, the Marblehead Historical Society or the Alzheimers Foundation. For online guestbook and directions, please visit www.eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com

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Published by The Marblehead Reporter from Mar. 17 to Mar. 24, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Dorothy Miles

17 Entries

Nancy Jones

June 11, 2010

I was searching the internet for references to Mrs. Miles' books and was saddened to read of her passing. Dorothy Miles was a true treasure to Marblehead, literature, and the honored profession of teaching. I count the days I spent in her classroom as some of my best. In my senior year ('74), a Modern Poetry and Modern Drama class were combined to allow the few students who signed up for one or the other to not miss out on either lesson. Modern Poetry and Drama was, by far, my favorite English Literature class I ever attended. Her lessons have stayed with me through the years.

My deepest sympathies are extended to her family and friends.

Spiro Veloudos

June 5, 2010

Unfortunately, I just heard about the passing of Dottie Miles. I hope her family will read this.

She was a truly moving force on the Board of Directors of the Lyric Stage Company. While I came to the company as its Producing Artistic Director, late in her tenure with the Board, her influence on that body and on the company as a whole have been missed.

While failing health kept her away from the theater, her seat is still marked with her plaque. A testament to her devotion to the company.

On behalf of the entire company, let me pass on our deepest sympathies to her family.

Don Gardner

March 29, 2010

"Dedication--to Mrs. Dorothy F. Miles
Whose Inspiring, Active, and Vital Leadership, Will Be With Us As A Lasting and Pleasant Memory"
---Class of 1953 Yearbook "Treasure Chest" Mrs. Miles was certainly one of our finest "treasures" as a teacher who taught us as much about politics as about English, and it was fun seeing her in later years as a writer and historian of the Town. As President of the Class of 1953, our Class sends our thanks to her and our sympathy to her family.

Lisa Gery

March 26, 2010

I was saddened to read about the passing of Mrs. Miles. I am a Marblehead High School graduate (class of 1974) and remember Mrs. Miles as one of the handful of teachers whose classes are still making a difference in my life today. In the work the I do, I am often required to submit letters and reports and always receive wonderful feedback with respect to my writing skills. I can attribute these skills solely to the marvelous instruction I received while in Mrs. Miles' class. She made an everlasting difference in my life and I am grateful to have known her.

Lisa Gery, Marblehead, MA

Bob Newman

March 25, 2010

Dorothy Miles was one of the best teachers I had at Marblehead High in the Class of 1960 and one of the best ever. She was able to be innovative and interesting and teach "outside the box". She challenged us to read and write at a high level and gave us a love for literature. That was no easy task ! I would like to attend the funeral but strangely enough I will be in Texas on that day. I will pay my respects when I return.

Joel Shapiro

March 25, 2010

My deepest condolences to the family of Dorothy Miles. Of my many excellent teachers at Marblehead High School during the years 1954--58, she was the best. By pushing us to read substantial literature, to write clearly, and to think independently, she made a lasting impression on all of us who were fortunate enough to be be her students. The lessons I learned in her classroom have impacted all aspects of my life. She was one of a kind.

Jim Samiljan

March 25, 2010

My sincerest condolences to my friend and classmate, Peter, and to the rest of the family. Dot was my favorite high school teacher, instilling in me a love and appreciation for the works of Thomas Hardy and Willa Cather. She was truly inspirational.

March 23, 2010

My husband Paul and I enjoyed memorable moments with Dorothy at her home on Pleasant Street. She was truly a remarkable person who gave so much to the Town of Marblehead and its inhabitants. My condolences to the family. Pat Lausier

Cathy Crow

March 22, 2010

As a 1965 graduate of MHS, I have incredibly fond memories of Mrs. Miles. I loved her class and her teaching style. She was a wonderful person and an extraordinary teacher. She left an incredible legacy. Condolescences to the family. Cathy (Stevens) Crow

Cathy Crow

March 22, 2010

As a 1965 graduate of MHS, I absolutely loved Mrs. Miles English class. She was an incredible teacher and a wonderful person. She made every visit to her class an enjoyable one, and you always learned something of interest.
Sincerest condolescences to her family.
Cathy (Stevens) Crow

Peter Lake

March 22, 2010

Dorothy Miles was a wonderful teacher and thanks to her I enjoyed a career for many years as a magazine and screenplay writer.

Joanne L (Thomas) Hatch

March 20, 2010

I remember visits to Aunt Dot and Uncle Vinnie' s home in Marblehead was I was a little girl. In later years we visited them on Cape Cod. My thoughts and prayers are with her sons and families. I hope remembering the happy times helps get you through this time of sorrow.

Jim Oppenheim

March 19, 2010

Dorothy Miles was one of my all time favorite teachers. She taught me how to "read between the lines", enjoy reading, and appreciate good writing.
I graduated MHS in 1964, but my last memory of Dot Miles was a visit to her beautiful Victorian home to discuss her book,Dreams of Glory. I was about 50, but nothing had changed, she was still the teacher and I listened. It was a memorable evening!
My condolences to the family.

Margaret Oliver McGrath

March 18, 2010

I have many memories of Dorothy Miles.
As a little girl I remember that Dorothy and my mother were friends.
She was a wonderful English teacher at MHS, always making class enjoyable.
I remember her from St Michael's Church. She was always so kind to me.
My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.

Judy Jay

March 18, 2010

We have many fond memories of Dorothy Miles. She was one of a kind. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.

From the MHS Class of 1972 Facebook Page

John Beals

March 18, 2010

Dot Miles was the finest English teacher that I had at MHS. She is one of the extrodinary teachers that I remember with fondness from my days as part of the class of '53. John Beals (Greene, NY)

Peter Cove

March 17, 2010

Dot Miles was the best and most important teacher I have ever had-period. She taught me in my Junior year-1957-to love literature and to respect my irreverence with which she was generously endowed . This was the Eisenhower-post McCarthy era and contrary thinking-especially in public-was at best frowned on. But she was seldom deterred and it gave me the courage to question authority as well as learn lessons from good literature. She did what the best teachers do-exemplified in the words of the great 20th century Rabbi, Abraham Joshuah Heschel, who said-"See not what you know, know what you see." She empowered me and so many others to have the guts to follow our convictions. We are all less for her absence. Peter Cove

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