Mary Elizabeth Fowler, 97, died on Nov. 21 after a long and productive life. A resident of West Hartford, Conn., and New Harbor, Dr. Fowler was born in 1911 in Lewiston, Ida. to Herbert Eugene and Mary Keatinge Fowler.
Dr. Fowler graduated from the University of Washington with BA and MA degrees. Following a move East to New Britain, Conn., she began her teaching career in the English Department at Berlin High School, later teaching at Northampton High School in Massachusetts. During WWII, Dr. Fowler served as a recreation director with the American Red Cross (Army Hospital Division) from 1944 to 1946 and was based in London during the bombings there. Return trips to visit wartime friends in England and Ireland imbued her with a love of travel that she cultivated throughout her life, traveling extensively throughout Europe, South America and the Far East.
In 1946, Dr. Fowler began teaching in the English Dept. at the Teacher’s College of Connecticut (now CCSU) where she continued until her retirement in 1973. She received her doctoral degree from NYU in 1951, became a full professor in 1961 and served as Supervising Teacher of English Majors for nearly two decades. A member of several professional organizations, she served as President of the New England Association of Teachers of English and published several articles in professional journals. In 1965, in association with her colleague and friend Elizabeth Rose of Hunter University, she published a textbook, Teaching Language, Composition and Literature for McGraw-Hill.
Dr. Fowler was predeceased by brother, Herbert K. Fowler.
She is survived by her sister, Jean Fowler Parsons of West Hartford, Conn.; six nieces and nephews; and many, many students and friends.
A private memorial service will be held this summer in Maine.
