Patricia Spring

Patricia "Pat" (Mathewson) Spring, 100, of Kensington, CT, widow of Frank F. Spring, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at her home surrounded by family. Born in Meriden, she was a former New Britain resident and lived in the Berlin-Kensington area since 1951. She was the daughter of Raymond E. and Winifred (Doherty) Mathewson. She was a graduate of New Britain High School and Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia (then a branch of the University of Virginia and now called The University of Mary Washington) where she received a Bachelor's Degree in English. She also received a Master's Degree in Education from Central Connecticut State University.
Pat was an English-Reading teacher in the New Britain School System for 35 years, retiring in 1999. Even after retirement she enjoyed encountering former students to learn about their lives and successes. In addition to her teaching she was active in the community: she was a member of the Berlin Board of Education (one year receiving the highest vote and being the only woman on the Board), the Junior League of New Britain, the Republican Town Committee, the Mr. and Mrs. Club of Berlin, and a former President of Taxpayers of Berlin.
Outgoing and adventurous in spirit, Pat had a great love for the outdoors, enjoying hiking, camping, sailing, and downhill skiing. She had a natural athleticism, being able to do a perfect jackknife dive off a diving board. Up into her late 80s, she could often be seen skiing solo in a coral ski suit at the local ski area, Mt. Southington. She held membership in the Appalachian Mountain Club and the New Britain Ski Club, where she met "Fran," her husband of 50 years, and authored a ski column entitled "Scanning the Ski Slopes with Pat Spring" for the New Britain Herald for 19 years. Her natural gracious ability to engage others in conversation was the foundation of her informative and creative reporting style.
Surviving are a son, Peter Spring of Kensington; two daughters, Catherine "Kate" Spring of Manhattan, NY and Stonington, CT, and Polly Spring and her husband, Breck Perkins, of Stonington, CT; three grandchildren, Jack Perkins, Natalie Perkins, and Eleanor "Elli" Spring; a niece Eileen Fava and her husband, Michael McCarthy, and their children, Duncan and Paige, as well as several other nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and her husband, she was also predeceased by her sister, June Fava, and her brother-in-law, Richard E. Fava.
Funeral services are on Friday, January 19, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Carlson Funeral Home, 45 Franklin Square, New Britain. Burial will follow in Maple Cemetery, Berlin. Calling hours are Thursday, January 18, 2024 from 5:00-7:00 PM at Carlson Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Sons & Daughters of Hawley (to support the restoration of the town Meetinghouse) at P.O. Box 206, Hawley, MA 01339. Please share a memory or a note of sympathy at www.carlsonfuneralhome.com