Carolyn J. Dickinson (Cheney)
Carolyn J. Dickinson (Cheney) died in San Francisco on October 31, 2017, after a seven-year, hard-fought battle with Parkinson’s Supra-nuclear Palsy. Although confined to a wheelchair and suffering a steady deterioration of all aspects of her physicality, Carolyn absolutely refused to go gently into the night. Her last day alive is testimony to her spirit (and perhaps stubborn streak) as she attended a three hour class at USF’s continuing education program, went out to lunch, and lay down to nap so she had the energy to go to her favorite bar- the Dubliner on 24th St.- for a glass of wine and banter with her many friends. She never woke from the nap, fulfilling her wish to die in her beloved home.
Born Nov. 13, 1939 in Springfield Ma., Carolyn was the daughter of Emerson Cheney and his wife Helen (Rich). She graduated from Holyoke High School in 1957 and earned a Master’s Degree in education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. After teaching at Amherst high school for several years, she packed everything she owned into her VW Beetle and moved to San Francisco in 1967. While a New Englander by birth, she was a true San Franciscan in spirit and loved its quirky attitude and cultural riches. She was even mentioned twice in Herb Caen’s column and received two notes from the legendary columnist.
A member of the California Teacher’s Union for 40 years, Carolyn taught English, reading, writing, literature, and poetry at high schools and colleges throughout the Bay Area. For the last 10 years, she taught “at-risk” kids at Redwood High School in Redwood City, which she particularly enjoyed. She retired from teaching in 2007.
Carolyn’s interests were as wide and varied as the city she loved. She was an excellent cook, a competent seamstress, avid reader, season ticket holder at the opera and symphony, dog and cat owner, volunteer at nursing homes with her French poodle Bistro, sports fan (Yankees, SF Giants, 49ers), history and movie buff, and runner. She could speak with knowledge and passion on subjects ranging from horse racing to Shakespeare to WWI to philosophy and baseball. She was a true Renaissance woman.
Carolyn leaves four siblings: Kathleen Kennedy of S. Hadley Ma., Robert Cheney and his wife Marie of Westfield Ma., Bruce Cheney of Yavu, Turkey, and Jeff Cheney of E. Longmeadow Ma. In lieu of a formal service, friends are invited to her home on Dec. 17 (Sunday) at 4-7 p.m. to share stories and remember this remarkable woman. Anyone wishing to remember her in a more tangible way are encouraged to give donations to Carolyn’s favorite charity, the SF SPCA.