Rosamond Drew Leland

Durham— Rosamond Drew (Emerson) Leland, 93, of Piscataqua Road, died April 16, 2009, at the Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover after a brief illness. Born April 15, 1916 in Dover, N.H. she was the daughter of Edward L. and Gertrude E. (Fox) Emerson. In 1937 Rosamond graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Tau Kappa Alpha and Phi Lambda Phi honorary societies.

She married and moved to New Jersey where she resided for 33 years. Rosamond devoted her time to her five children and many volunteer activities. She was president of the local Girl Scout Council, active in the First Presbyterian Church and the United Way. While living in New Jersey she pursued her love of opera and was active in the Metropolitan Opera Guild.

After returning to live in Durham, Rosamond continued to share her time and talent. She was a member and past president of the Woman’s Club of Durham and served as chairman of their Scholarship Committee. She was a past president of the Durham Historic Association, a past president of the Seacoast Branch of the American Association of University Women, a member of the Elsie Cilley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Folk Club and the Piscataqua Pioneers. As an active member of the Community Church of Durham, she served in many leadership positions on the Church Council, the Board of Stewards, and the Women’s Guild. Rosamond established the quilting group at church and, under her guidance for the past 39 years, the members completed over 200 hand sewn quilts to be sold at the Women’s Guild Christmas Fair. The University of New Hampshire Alumni Association was another organization to benefit from Rosamond’s participation. In 1994 she co-authored a history of the Alumni Association, “Thy Sons and Daughters Ever” and, in 1996, was instrumental in having Thompson Hall listed in the National Register of Historic Places. She was a director of the UNH Alumni Association, a member of the UNH Presidents Council and a recipient of the Alumni Meritorious Service Award. For her 84th birthday the family honored her love of opera by establishing the Rosamond Emerson Leland Endowment for the Performing Arts at the University of New Hampshire. The money is used to bring professional opera to Durham as part of the UNH Celebrity Series.

Her husband of 67 years, Hollis L. Leland, died in 2004. She is survived by her five children, David and Dorothy Leland of Denver, Colorado, Dale Eichorn of Durham, Jean and James Reid of Dover, NH, Diane and John Newick of Dover, NH, and John and Simone Leland of Durham; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren.

There are no calling hours. A memorial service will be held at the Durham Community Church, 17 Main Street, on Sunday, April 26th at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Rosamond Emerson Leland Endowment for the Performing Arts, c/o The UNH Foundation, Elliott Alumni Center, 9 Edgewood Road, Durham, NH 03824.

Visit www.kentandpelczarfh.com to send a condolence or to sign a guestbook.

Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home, 77 Exeter St., Newmarket, NH is assisting the family with arrangements.