ALDRICH Virginia, a prominent Boston attorney, died peacefully on Monday, November 8 after a long illness. Miss Aldrich was the third child of Harold and Hazel ( née Orth) Aldrich, formerly of Quincy, MA. Miss Aldrich and her three brothers, elder Duane and Richard, and younger John, all of whom she survived, grew up on Wollaston Beach. Virginia was graduated from Radcliffe College in 1945, after which she became a researcher for the Encyclopedia Britannica, answering the queries of subscribers. Virginia, as a woman, was barred from Harvard Law School, despite being every bit as qualified as her two older alumni brothers. Undeterred, she was graduated from the Georgetown Law School in 1957 as its first female Editor of the Law Review. Immediately after graduation, Miss Aldrich joined the Boston firm of Palmer & Dodge (now Edwards, Angell, Palmer & Dodge) and when promoted to Partner in 1969, she became the first woman ever to attain that status in a major Boston law firm. She retired from the firm in 1989.
Virginia Aldrich was an avid bibliophile and traveler, enjoying many excursions abroad with her fellow shareholders of the Boston Athenaeum and members of the Union Club, organizations she supported until her death. Miss Aldrich specialized in probate and estate law. She was a longtime Director of Associated Day Care Services of Greater Boston (now Associated Early Care & Education), and Trustee of the Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations.
Miss Aldrich was a proud and passionate feminist and Republican. As long as she was able, she drove a Mercedes speedster for fun and visiting, and walked daily from India Wharf to work and home again.
Miss Aldrich is survived by sisters-in-law Lois, of Wellesley, and Jan of Sacramento, CA., and by eleven nieces and nephews, who fondly recall her gift-laden arrival each Christmas day.
Funeral from the George F. Doherty & Sons 477 Washington St. (Rt 16) WELLESLEY Friday at 9AM. Funeral Mass in St. Paul’s Church, Wellesley, at 10AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours Thursday from 4-7PM. Interment Linwood Cemetery, Weston.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Virginia Aldrich Book Fund, c/o Paula Marshall, Director, the Boston Athenaeum, 10 ½ Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02116; or to The Harold & Hazel Aldrich Scholarship Fund, Radcliffe College, c/o the President & Fellows of Harvard College, Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138.