Elizabeth Lea Dole Durfee | Service:
Friday, October 24, 2008
2:00 PM
St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral
2 Cherry Street
Burlington, VT
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| | | Elizabeth Lea Dole Durfee died October18, 2008 in The Arbors, Shelburne, VT where she resided for over five years and received professional and very loving care.
Elizabeth was born September 20, 1925 in Burlington, VT. She was the only child of Eleazer Johnson Dole, PBK, MA, MS, PhD, (UVM '23), Professor of Botany at the University of Vermont (died 1954) and Harriet Haslam Dole (UVM '23) considered an expert in literature, antiques, and teaching.
Elizabeth's education started at The Overlake Day School (former Col. Le Grand Cannon Estate) So. Prospect St, Burlington and continued through sixth grade in a "private school" led by her mother and several UVM faculty parents in their homes. She was graduated from Burlington High School (Edmunds) in 1942. She attended UVM '46, BA in Liberal Arts, major in Art and English. She studied and painted with Francis P. Colburn, Professor of Art, and she received a scholarship from The Arts Students League in New York City where she worked with Will Barnet (lithography) and Harry Sternberg (figure and portrait painting). Later at UVM she took postgraduate courses in iconography, symbolism, and costumes. Notably, she always was always proud to explain that between the Durfee and Dole families, including wives, husbands, aunts, uncles and cousins, at least 30 academic degrees were conferred by UVM.
On September 18, 1947, she married Herbert Ashley Durfee, Jr., (Yale BS , UVM MD '48) and supported him during his two year internship in New York City and his residencies in Surgery, and Obstetrics & Gynecology in Boston. She accompanied him to Germany for two years while he served in the US Air Force (Medical Corps). They returned to Burlington in 1957.
She avidly participated in The Klifa Club, Mozart Festival, Lane Series, UVM Center for Research on Vermont, the Society of Mayflower Descendents, Chittenden County Historical Society, Orleans County Historical Society, Ethan Allen Homestead, UVM Robert Hull Fleming Museum, Vermont Historical Society, and Burlington Country Club.
Her most special organization was the National Society of Colonial Dames, Vermont Chapter. She enjoyed terms on all committees and several years as President. It was as a member of The Historical Activities Committee that she became involved in the Inventory of American Painting In 1981 she was appointed by the Governor of Virginia to a six year term as a Regent of The Gunston Hall Plantation, home of George Mason in Mason Neck, VA. The historic home is owned by the State of VA and administered by the National Society of Colonial Dames. As Regent she had the opportunity to meet then-First Lady Barbara Bush. In 1996, she was elected to the Role of Honor for distinguished service by the Society.
Under The Centennial Inventory of American Paintings started by the National Museum of American Art (Smithsonian), the National Society of Colonial Dames offered to assist in the search for paintings done before 1914 by itinerant limners or trained painters. In 1976 Elizabeth became responsible for this project in VT. She catalogued some 400 paintings from throughout the state. Each painting required photographs in black and white and color, a description, dimensions, and genealogical and historical information. All information was sent to the National Museum of American Art in Washington, DC, the Belknap Library of the du Pont Winterthur Museum in Delaware, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center in New York. Many of the paintings were unsigned. Elizabeth, through research and a special talent, often was able to identify the artist of many of the paintings. She frequently was invited to present her illustrated programs "Itinerant Painters Before 1914" and "Symbolism in Early Paintings."
In February 1989, she was Guest Curator for the UVM Robert Hull Fleming Museum's exhibit titled, "Faces in the Parlor, Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Portraits from Vermont Collections" sponsored in part by the NSCD, of Vermont. This exhibit included a half day program in which she was a speaker and lead a tour.
In addition, she served as curator for an exhibit of wild flower photography by George E. Milne (former Trustee) at the Aldrich Public Library in Barre, Vermont and at the Ethan Allen Homestead in Burlington. For many years Elizabeth proudly took and donated Polaroid pictures of new citizens and their families at US Immigration Ceremonies throughout the state, until it became apparent that virtually all families brought their own cameras. (Sponsor: NSCD.)
Along with her husband, Elizabeth is survived by her two sons: Herbert A. Durfee, Ill, his wife Tracy Hunt Durfee, their son, Herbert A. Durfee, IV, and daughter, Madison Watkins Durfee; Eleazer Lea Dole Durfee, his wife Christy Michelle Post and their daughter Ruby Elizabeth Durfee. She is survived by her sister in-law, Margaret Ann Durfee West of Charlotte, VT, and her husband, Russell C. West, along with their five children (one son Russell, Jr. d. 2006); her sister in-law, Mary Jane Durfee Jenkins, of Tulsa, OK, and her Eusband, Edward W. Jenkins, MD, along with their five children. Also her cousin Barbara Jenson Stearns (wife of late Burdett (Bud) K. Stearns), Williston, VT; and, several nieces, nephews and cousins in other states.
A Memorial Service celebrating Elizabeth's life will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, October 24, 2008 at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, 2 Cherry Street, Burlington, VT. In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made in Elizabeth's memory to either the Arbors, 687 Harbor Road, Shelburne, VT, 05482; UVM Robert Hull Fleming Museum, 61 Colchester Ave., Burlington, VT 05405 or to the Visiting Nurse Association (Adult Day Care) 1110 Prim Rd, Colchester, VT 05446. Arrangements are in the care of the Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send online condolences please visit www.readyfuneral.com.
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