The Dawsons

After checking out at the YMCA Camp this morning, we stopped to say hello to Arlene Dawson, who lives in Estes Park.   She knew Shirley at Kansas State Teachers College, Pittsburg. KS, 60 years ago when Shirley was a Danny Grad there. Her husband. Eugene, was at that time Academic Dean and a Consultant to the Danforth Foundation. Eugene passed away in 2005. Arlene herself will be 97 years old this week! She still is able to live by herself, with her dachshund, Winston, in the home she has lived in for 45 years. Her children support her in that decision. She is a delightful and very "with-it" person.

I probably met Arlene 60 years ago when I came to Pittsburg in March, 1955, to get engaged to Shirley. Shirley herself was a guest in their home more than once, I'm sure, and indeed got to know their daughter, Lolita, whom I met some time later when she visited us after Shirley and I were married. Lolita is now 70 years old and living in Midland, MI. 

I did not expect Arlene to remember Shirley in any specific way, but she did fill in some background information about KSTC and her husband. Eugene, we learn from Shirley's letters, had invited Shirley to come back to Cambridge, MA, to serve as Director of Christian Education at a church he was contemplating serving as minister. I learned from Arlene that that was a Baptist church, that Eugene had graduated from Harvard Divinity School, and that he had served a church in Lynn, MA, for several years before coming to Pittsburg. That helped flesh out that story a bit. As it turned out, Shirley did not go back to Cambridge, she met me instead, and Eugene went on to become President of Colorado Women's College, and then of Univ. of Redlands, CA. 

  Arlene Dawson, a portrait of Eugene Dawson, and me. 

       Arlene outside her home in Estes Park

We're now back in Boulder, Betsey is taking a nap, Caroline Hopewell has just returned from a visit to the local Waldorf School. Rob and Betsey plan to go out to a College of Music event this evening.