Doris B. Griscom

Norwich - Dr. Doris B. Griscom died at her home in Norwich on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, with her daughters by her side.

She was born in Seguin, Texas on June 16, 1919 to Dudley D. and Mary G. (Burges) Baker. She was blessed as child to be part of a large extended family that provided her with love and rich experiences that sustained her for the rest of her life. Doris was a woman who possessed tremendous energy and unswerving commitment to her family and her ideals.

A dedicated academic, she earned her bachelor's degree at the University of Texas, where she met Ellwood Griscom. They were married in 1943, in New York City when he entered the Army Air Corps. Ellwood served in Italy for the duration of the war, and Doris worked at the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Philadelphia after earning her master's at Bryn Mawr College. She then took a job as a sociology instructor at the University of Texas, where she was deeply affected politically when President Homer Rainey was fired for his defense of academic freedom. After the war, she and Ellwood moved to New Orleans, where she taught at Newcomb College, now part of Tulane. Ellwood's work with the USO subsequently took them to Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi, Lubbock, Texas and Ohio before his career finally brought them to Connecticut. After her three daughters were in school, Doris earned her Ph.D. from Brown University in 1968. She taught for several years at Connecticut College before becoming chairman of the Sociology Department at Eastern Connecticut State University. Doris was characterized by a tireless devotion to her career, her family and many worthy causes, including the AAUP, world hunger, racial equality and environmental conservation. She had a lively intellect and engaged in political and sociological discourse with a passion rarely rivaled, always in support of the downtrodden and oppressed.

Privately she was a was a gifted water color artist who painted landscapes, wild animals and portraits of family pets. She had an eye for color and loved arranging beautiful flowers for her family. She was most happy when engaged in a stimulating conversation with family and dear friends, while eating seafood in a fine restaurant. Doris loved to travel and learn about different cultures. Her travels took her around the U.S. and to Mexico, Canada, Europe and the Carribean, but at heart she was always a true Texan. A high point in her life was the summer of 1968 when she first toured Europe with her three young daughters. Over the past 50 years, she spent thousands of peaceful hours at Seaside Beach Club in Misquamicut with her family.

Doris and Ellwood were married for 62 years, until his death in 2005. They were active members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Norwich.

She is survived by her three daughters, Barbara Griscom of Norwich, Mary Anne Baker of Mansfield, and Katherine Dykes of Oakdale; four grandchildren, Nathaniel Baker, Benjamin Baker, Daniel Dykes and Emily Dykes; and nephews, Dudley D. Baker III and Jack Baker of Texas; her life-long friend, Mary Margaret Bobo; and many beloved cousins.

She was predeceased by her brother, Dudley D. Baker Jr.

Calling hours will be 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, at Labenski Funeral Home, 107 Boswell Ave., Norwich. Services will be held on Nov. 12, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Seguin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the ECSU Foundation, Inc., 83 Windham St., Gelsi & Young Room 120, Willimantic, CT 06226 for the Doris B. Griscom memorial scholarship.