Alene Marie Tate

Alene Marie Roberts Tate passed to glory on August 18, 2023, the second anniversary of her husband's ascension. Alene died at Connecticut Hospice (CT Hospice) in Branford, the first hospice in the nation which she helped found 50 years ago.
The only child of Bertha Redden Roberts and The Rev. Ernest Kossuth Roberts, Alene was born on a ranch just outside of Garden City, Kansas. In 1934 her parents returned to the family homestead in Coffeyville, Kansas, where Alene attended local schools. At the age of 18, Alene graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Business Administration. At KU she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She was the first woman of color to become an administrative assistant at the university. Also, at KU she met returning WWII veteran Oyarma Tate. They were married in August 1948, a union that lasted his death. They were married almost 73 years. Five children were born to their union. In 1969, the couple moved their family from Kansas City, Kansas, to North Haven, Connecticut. Alene took a demotion to make the move work.
While the couple lovingly raised their family, Alene pursued an outstanding career with the United States Government and devoted herself to extensive volunteerism for her church and community. At St. John's North Haven Church Alene served several terms on the Vestry and became the first female Senior Warden in the then 228-year history of that parish. For several years she was Dean of the New Haven Episcopal Deanery. In the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, she served on numerous committees and offices, including the Standing Committee, the Executive Council, and Committees for Election of several Diocesan Bishops. Throughout the Diocese, she led several parishes in an extension program offered by the University of The South, Sewanee, Tennessee. On the national church level, Alene served as chairperson of the Diocesan deputation to General Convention and as chair of one of the General Convention committees. For her years of outstanding service, in 1989 she was awarded the "Bishop's Citation for Service to Church and Community." In 1993, Alene was instrumental in the election of the first black Bishop Diocesan, Clarence Coleridge, Thirteenth Bishop Diocesan of Connecticut.
In 1992, Alene became a member of the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross, an international organization of Anglican Women who live by a vowed rule of life. She subsequently held office in that association.
Early in her professional career Alene was employed by the National Labor Relations Board, and toward the end of her career was involved in federal labor-management negotiations. In the early 1950s she received FBI security clearance for special work with Bendix Aviation Corporation, an early atomic energy contractor. For many years Alene was employed by the Social Security Administration, where she received the "Outstanding Public Service Award" from the Department of Health and Human Services, and the "Senior Management Citation" awarded by the Secretary of the Department. It was during this time that she helped found CT Hospice.
In the Greater New Haven Community, Alene devoted many hours of volunteer service, serving on the Boards of Directors of: the United Way of Greater New Haven; Urban League of Greater New Haven, Info Line of Connecticut, Sage Advocate, and Community Health Care Plan, Inc. She also served on the Mayor's Committee on the Elderly, was Federal Career Advisor to Yale University and Quinnipiac College and was president of the Greater New Haven Federal Executive Association, chairperson of the Task Force on Children (financed by funds from the Olin Corporation), and a member of the VA Hospital Institutional Review Board Human Studies subcommittee. She was also a member of the National Association for Female Executives.
In 1995, Alene and Oyarma moved to the Masonicare at Ashlar Village retirement community where she remained until her death. At Ashlar Alene continued an active lifestyle, serving four years as a member of the corporate board of directors, two years as president of the residents' association, and more than 18 years as a volunteer with the Ashlar Village Marketing Department. In 2018 Alene was honored as a member of "60 Over 60," an award honoring 60 Connecticut Citizens "in recognition of their ongoing selflessness, inspiration and contributions to the world in which they live."
Of all that she did, Alene most cherished being a loving wife, mother to her children, and serving her God and Church.
Alene is survived by H. Oyarma Tate, Jr of New Haven, Stanley L. Tate IV (Margaret) of Webster, NY, Cheryl Harrigan (EJ) of West Haven, David Tate of Milford and adoptive daughter Iralene Swain of New York City, NY, six grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband and her son Kenneth Tate.
A wake will be held at the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue on Friday August 25 from 4 – 7 pm. The Funeral service will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church 3 Trumbull Place North Haven, CT at 11am Saturday August 26. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CT Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd. Branford 06405.