A Celebration in the Life of Eleanor “EB” Winslow (Blackall) Read
Eleanor “EB” Winslow (Blackall) Read of Mystic died on Sunday, September 28, 2014 at the Avalon Health Care Center at StoneRidge, Mystic.
Born January 10, 1918 in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Robert Murray Blackall and Dorothy Evans Brewer. She was raised in Milton, MA, graduating from Milton Academy in 1935. She received her A.B. in Modern American Government from Radcliffe College (now Harvard) in 1939 where she was President of Student Government and Class Marshal at her graduation; her M.A. from U-Conn in 1965; and her M.A.T. in Russian Studies from Connecticut College in 1972.
She married Harold “Mike” Wilson Read Jr on June 30, 1939. In their early marriage, they lived in Newark, NJ and Northampton, MA. After the war, they moved to Norwich, CT in 1949, and in 1964 they built their home on Mason’s Island in Mystic, CT.
EB was a leader, historian, teacher, author, and world traveler. She had a keen intellect, was strong yet cheerful with a sense of humor, ethical with a guiding sense of fairness, was an excellent strategist, was able to size up situations, and encouraged people to become involved. EB was a leader in numerous volunteer activities her whole life.
From 1960 to 1980, she taught history and social studies at Norwich Free Academy. In the 60’s, she assisted in four student tours abroad, three to the Soviet Union and one to Spain. The Yale University Asian Council recognized her for initiating a survey course at NFA on China and Japan, entitled “Oriental Journey,” a high school course unheard of in the early 80’s. The Connecticut Council of Social Studies honored her as History Teacher of the Year; in 1980 she served as their president. She also initiated the first high school student volunteer program in Connecticut, “Project Outreach,” for which she received special recognition in 1972 from Governor Ella Grasso.
Her love of local history was reflected in her various pursuits. In 1978 she published “Norwich, A Century of Growth,” detailing the economic history of Norwich, and in 1980, “Mystic Memories.” After retirement, she taught adult ed classes in local history in Norwich and Stonington. She wrote many articles for the Stonington Historical Society’s “Foot Notes,” including “String of Pearls,” which traced the growth of the textile industry in Eastern Connecticut. She also wrote the histories of the Mason’s Island Yacht Club in 1992 and of the Mystic Art Association in 1993 in celebration of its 80th anniversary. She belonged to four historical societies - Noank, Mystic River, Stonington, and New London County – and was Town Historian for Stonington for several years.
In 1980 EB served as Finance Chair of the Connecticut League of Women Voters. In that year, she and Mike both retired. For many years thereafter they enjoyed cruising to Maine on “Legacy” in the summers and vacationing to Ocean Village, Florida in the winters. She became a docent at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, and started regional bus trips for members that eventually developed into European tours, including Paris, Italy, Provence, and Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. Over the years, she has also traveled to Great Britain, the Balkans, Thailand, Japan, China, Mexico, and within the United States including Alaska, California, Florida, New Orleans, and our National Parks.
She was active locally at the Mystic Congregational Church as a trustee, deacon, and historian. She was a member of the Mystic Garden Club where she served as president from 1988 to 1990, Mystic Seaport as a volunteer on the mail team, board of governors at the Mason’s Island Yacht Club, Ram Island Yacht Club, and the Mystic Art Association where she took many art classes.
EB celebrated family, and was very proud of her family. She also enjoyed genealogy. In particular she arranged for memorabilia of Mike’s grandfather, who was a prominent Massachusetts statesman and businessman, to be contributed by family cousins to Houghton Library, Harvard. The project culminated in a family reunion in 2002 centered around an exhibit of the collection, attended by descendents from all over the United States. For her own family, she has completed a genealogy tracing back many generations, complete with stories, careers, and photos.
EB is survived by her sister Nancy (Blackall) Thompson of Pittsburgh, PA; by her children: her son-in-law William Fry of Concord, MA, Penelope (Read) Stevens of Fairfield, CT, and John and Maryann (Squadrito) Read of Groton; by her grandchildren, Stephanie (Fry) and Robert Guillemette, Jr. of Beverly, MA, Russell and Sheila (Schmidt) Stevens of Santa Clara, CA, Wendy (Stevens) and Tom McLean of South Salem, NY, and Aaron and Lisa (Larson) Read of East Providence, RI; and three great-granddaughters, Sarah and Katherine McLean and Rebecca Guillemette. Besides her beloved husband, she was predeceased by her daughter Peggy (Read) Fry, by her grandson Christopher Fry, by her son-in-law Wayne Stevens, and by her sister and her husband, Elizabeth (Blackall) and Thomas Porter.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. at the Mystic Congregational Church, 43 East Main Street, Mystic, CT 06355 with reception following. Interment will be at the family’s convenience at Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Youth Group Programs at the Mystic Congregational Church.
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