Thea Braiterman

1927 - 2016

Thea Braiterman died peacefully at Concord Hospital, Monday, March 28, 2016, surrounded bedside by her family.   She was 88 years of age.

Born in Baltimore, Sept. 11, 1927, Thea and her husband, Marvin moved to Henniker in their 40's to become professors at New England College, where, among other notable accomplishments, Thea formed the Women's Studies program at the college and founded the Learning Institute at New England College (LINEC).  To this date, LINEC provides lifelong educational opportunities for adults in the arts, government, society, and natural sciences.

Thea delighted her business and economics students with a gentle, hands on, and accessible style of teaching that brought students into her living room for classes, and wayward students to coffee around her prolific kitchen table. 

Friends and family from up and down the east coast partook of Thea's understated hospitality with regular visits and large family gatherings.  Intelligent conversation always seemed more palatable with Thea's homemade matzah ball soup, but don't be fooled.  What was behind that apron was a wit and a charm that won hearts and influenced people.

Thea served three terms as a NH State Legislator during the 1990's representing first Henniker/Warner, then Henniker/Bradford. There she promoted legislation around health insurance, banking, and consumer protection.  Both she and her husband, Marvin were active Democrats, organizing voter registration and advancing political activism steeped in their Jewish tradition. 

They actively campaigned in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's and against the Vietnam War.  Their brand of political activism carried into their service as selectmen in Henniker each at different times, to pushing back a nuclear waste dump proposed for the Contoocook River Valley, and co-founding the Henniker Peace Community.

Before coming to New Hampshire, Thea worked and raised her family in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. She earned her undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University in Economics, her Masters Degree in History from the University of Maryland, and her Ph.D. in Economics from Antioch University of New England. Her earliest work in downtown Baltimore was in office management for Marvin's early law practice, followed by a decade of teaching Business and Economics at the Baltimore College of Commerce.

Thea and her family attended Star Island Conferences in the Isles of Shoals off the New Hampshire seacoast for 35 years, including years as Chair of the Island's International Affairs Conference.   

Thea was predeceased by her husband, Marvin Braiterman in 2004 and her eldest son, Ken Braiterman in 2014. She is survived by two children, Concord Attorney David J. Braiterman with his fiancé, Mary Bergeron, and daughter, Marta Braiterman Tanenbaum a Brooklyn, N.Y, resident with her husband, Rabbi Irwin Tanenbaum.  Thea leaves five accomplished adult grandchildren, Shira Braiterman, Wolfeboro, Noah Braiterman, Portland, Maine, Jacob J. Tanenbaum, Los Angeles, Leora Tanenbaum, Brooklyn, N.Y. and Isaiah Tanenbaum, Brooklyn, N.Y.  

Thea's high school yearbook from Western High School in Baltimore describes Thea as "going up stairs, three steps at a time." Thea's unique charm and intellect, cultivated over a lifetime, brought many others up those stairs right alongside her.

Funeral service will be held Wednesday, March 30, at 3 p.m. at Temple Beth Jacob, 67 Broadway, in Concord, followed by burial in the cemetery in Henniker.  

Shiva gatherings will be held at the home of David Braiterman and Mary Bergeron of Concord, with prayer services at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Temple Beth Jacob. 
Arrangements are entrusted to the Bennett Funeral Home of Concord.