Roberta F. Doering

Roberta F. (Gere) Doering, 91, of River Road died Sunday in Baystate Medical Center surrounded by her family. Roberta was born in Syracuse, New York, to Robert Francis Gere and Mary Margaret Osterhout Gere, was a graduate of Cortland State University in New York, and has lived in Agawam for over 60 years. Roberta lived a life committed to promoting the interests of children, education, health and fitness, and the arts. After graduating from college, she taught Health and Physical Education in Cooperstown, New York, where she met her future husband, Dr. James A. Doering. Beginning with her work as a young woman running Girl Scout summer camps on Long Island and in Cooperstown, Roberta understood the benefits of the camp experience for children. Roberta worked at the Pine Knoll Swim School in Springfield from 1958 to 1992 as Director of the Seven and Younger Field Program and as a swimming instructor. Her interest in recreation and fitness led to a life-long support of the Greater Springfield YMCA. Roberta’s commitment to the YMCA’s mission was first recognized in 1972, when she received its outstanding layperson award. Roberta served on the YMCA’s Board of Directors for 20 years, chaired the Camp Norwich Resident Camp Committee for 10 years, and made history when elected its first woman Board Chair in 1979. In 1982, the YMCA recognized Roberta’s extraordinary service by granting her its highest honor, the Red Triangle Award. In 1969, Roberta expanded her focus to the children of Agawam. She was first elected to the Agawam School Committee on January 1, 1970, and served continuously on the committee until her death. She is the longest consecutively serving school committee member in the State of Massachusetts. In 2010, Agawam recognized Roberta’s exceptional contributions by dedicating The Roberta G. Doering Middle School in her honor. Always a champion of public education, Roberta participated in state and national school board associations, serving as a member and past President of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (President, 1986) and National School Boards Association (President, 1995). Former Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy paid tribute to Roberta’s accomplishments with remarks published in the Congressional Record on April 3, 1995. Roberta’s other interests were many and varied. She was a charter member of the Field Club in Longmeadow, a longtime member of the Lower Pioneer Valley Collaborative and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, served on the Board of Trustees of the Springfield Library and Museum Association, and served on the board of trustees of the Baystate Medical Center. Roberta had a love of nature and the outdoors, enjoyed hiking and camping in our National Parks across the country, and spent many years with her husband and family at her second home near Lake Placid, New York. She enjoyed downhill skiing at Whiteface Mountain in NY and Mt. Tom in Holyoke, MA, rode her bicycle around the streets of Agawam for decades, and more recently kept up her physical fitness with regular walks at the Holyoke Mall and along Agawam’s River Walk. She was also a strong supporter of the arts, enjoying performances from the Lake Placid Center for the Arts, the New York City Ballet, the Fine Arts Center at U Mass, and The Majestic Theater. Until her death, Roberta continued to embrace the world before her and find new interests in her life. Roberta’s husband Dr. Doering died in 2002. She leaves a sister Nancy Ann (Gere) O’Neil of Oak Park, Illinois; many nieces and nephews: Andrea Drozda, Nancy Goodwin, Michael Powers and his wife Ellen, Patrick Powers and his wife Dawn, Carol O’Neil, Elaine O’Neil and her husband Andrew, Marilyn Marr and her husband Ray, Carolyn Phillips and her husband Lee, Peggy Lawson, Judy McGinty, and Alice Smith and her husband Fred; and generations of great-nieces and nephews. Besides her husband, Roberta was predeceased by two sisters Jane (Gere) Powers and Mary Louise (Gere) Drozda, and a niece Connie (Powers) Lister. The funeral will be held at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home Friday April 1, 2016 at 9:00 am with Liturgy in St. John the Evangelist Church at 10:00 am, followed by burial in the Massachusetts Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held Thursday from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. For more details please visit curranjones.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Roberta’s memory to the Roberta G. Doering Field Trip Fund, c/o Agawam Public Schools, 1305 Springfield Street, Suite 1, Feeding Hills, MA 01030, the YMCA of Greater Springfield, c/o Development Office, 275 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104 or to the Springfield Science Museum 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA 01103.