Obituary of Helen Michaelson

MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT Helen Michaelson, 95, passed away April 28, 2016 after a brief illness. She was born Helen Samuels in Hartford CT on December 28, 1920. She graduated from Weaver High School in Hartford. After attending an extension of Mt. Holyoke College in Hartford for her freshman year, she transferred to the University of Connecticut where she graduated in 1942 with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. After graduation, she worked for the Signal Corps in Monmouth NJ during World War 2. After the war, she moved to New York City and worked for a firm called Food Research, an independent testing company. Helen met and married Alvin Michaelson in 1950. They moved to Schenectady in 1955, where they raised their daughter Jo and son Peter. When both children were in school all day, she went back to college and earned a Masters in Education from SUNY at Albany in order to be able to teach. She taught chemistry at Shenendehowa High School until her retirement in 1995. While raising a family, furthering her education and teaching hundreds of students to marvel at and understand chemistry, Helen maintained active interests in politics, Judaism, horses, dogs, and travel. She was devoted to her husband Alvin to whom she was married for 64 years. Always learning and always curious about the world, she imparted these characteristics to her children. In 2015 she moved to Mystic CT to be closer to her daughter. She thoroughly enjoyed the change of pace of living near the shore in her beloved Connecticut. She is survived by her daughter Jo, her son Peter and his son Jacob. Service at Congregation Gates of Heaven, 852 Ashmore Avenue in Schenectady on Monday, May 2 at 10:00am lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in her memory to the American Association of University Women (online at https://ww2.aauw.org/donate-gift/ )or the charity of your choice.