Alice Grimes Gaither

1935 - 2009
Alice Grimes Gaither, 73, died June 7, 2009, at her home in Washington, D.C., after a long illness.

Beloved wife of H. Rowan Gaither, Mrs. Gaither was born in Providence, Rhode Island and graduated from Westover School and Sarah Lawrence College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Teaching Certificate in early childhood education. She taught at The Brearley School. In 1962, she organized and was Head Teacher at The White House School, which was established by President and Mrs. Kennedy for Caroline Kennedy and other students. After President Kennedy's assassination, the school was moved to the British Embassy. Mrs. Gaither later started The Schoolhouse, a nursery school and kindergarten in Washington, D.C. She served on the boards of The Potomac School, The Sulgrave Club and the House of Mercy and was a volunteer tutor.

A loving, witty, loyal wife, mother, aunt and friend, Mrs. Gaither was a passionate reader, tennis player and sailor. She loved the afternoon breezes that cooled the porch of her house in Jamestown, Rhode Island during the summer. In addition to her husband Terry, she leaves behind her son H. Rowan Gaither IV, his wife Masha and grand-daughters Natasha and Nina; her daughter Julie Grimes Gaither; her daughter Charlotte Gaither Morgan and husband Neil Morgan; her brother Paul J. Grimes and wife Katie; her sister Ellen G. Noble; and eleven nieces and nephews and their families.

A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 2:00 pm at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, on 36th Street between N and O Streets, N. W., Washington, D.C.