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Barbara Gotschall Obituary

Barbara Gotschall, 97, widow of Dr. John Gotschall retired Superintendent of Schools in East Bridgewater and Auburn, MA died December 1, 2007. She is survived by two daughters, Lucy Ingram of Greensboro and Laura Brush of Woodbury, CT. Services will be held on Thursday, December 6, at 2:00 p.m. in Greensboro, NC.

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Published by Worcester Telegram & Gazette on Dec. 5, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Barbara Gotschall

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Donna Merriam Saul

December 6, 2007

My sincere condolences in the loss of your mother. I am also a student whose life she touched as a first grade teacher at Clara Barton school. She made me feel special, and smart and important. She taught me French- in first grade- can you imagine? She inspired in me a love of learning and an admiration of education. I was in her class the year she retired, and I was heartbroken when she was no longer at the school. She wrote me letters for a while after she had moved to Greensboro, telling me about her children and her new life. I have cherished those letters over the years. I wrote her a letter when I graduated from college, as it was important to me to share my educational accomplishment with her. I was so incredibly thrilled to hear back from her.

Mrs. Gotschall was a blessing to her students, and she will be missed. Thank you for sharing your mother with us.

Margaret Nutter Alexander

December 5, 2007

Lucy and Laura, I remember your folks so very
well in East Bridgewater. Your Dad was kind to me when my Dad suddenly passed away in 1938. Your folks will always be in my heart.

Susan Turner

December 5, 2007

Mrs Gotschall was my first grade teacher at Clara Barton. I lived down the road and would return to school many a day to 'clap out the erasers.' How interesting that I saw another Guest Book entry make the same statement! She was a tough teacher always pushing you to your limits but sensitive to your needs. I won a book for being the first to finish a math test; fueling my fire to pursue math. I still have that book signed by her. What a role model and mentor. How blessed we were to have her for a teacher.

Ruth Kosiavelon

December 5, 2007

Lucy and Laura, Please accept my heartfelt condolences on the loss of your mother. Although you were very fortunate to have had her for so long, it does not lessen the pain and sadness of your loss.
I remember you girls well and the time that your family lived in East Bridgewater while your dad was the superintendant of schools there. Sincerely Ruth Horton Kosiavelon

Karen (Turner) Rayla

December 5, 2007

I too was a first grade student of Mrs. Gotschall's at the Clara Barton School in Oxford, MA. She was the best teacher I ever had. She truly loved to teach. She made learning fun.

One quick memory; I did not drink milk. No, no allergy - just didn't like milk. No doctor's note to say, "No milk" so the cafeteria workers tried to MAKE me take milk and drink it. Mrs. Gotschall came to my rescue every day until the workers understood that this first grader wasn't going to take milk with her lunch!

My condolences to her family. She was a wonderful person and will always be fondly remembered.

Elizabeth Romkey Swope

December 5, 2007

I so fondly remember your mother from my days in Auburn, MA, especially at the church. I am sorry for your loss and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Jo-Ann Rogers

December 5, 2007

I will never forget Mrs. Gotschall, my first-grade teacher at Clara Barton School in Oxford, MA. She'd make flash cards for me and let me bang out those erasers after school. I lived across the street, so I'd run home, change, and get right back up the hill. I'd knock on the classroom window and she'd come over and either hand me those flash cards or the erasers. She was always a pretty snazzy dresser, too. Fishnet stockings and heels! I loved her dearly.

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