Linda Welchman

Waterford — Linda Welchman, 80, formerly of 56 Shore Drive in Waterford, passed away on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, at Bride Brook in Niantic.

She was born in December 1937, in Westchester County, N.Y., the daughter of Van Van Demark and Dorothy Horton.

Linda met her future husband, J. Nicholas Welchman, when they were students at Tufts University. They married in Boston in 1959, and would celebrate their 53rd wedding anniversary before his death in 2012.

They moved to Connecticut in 1963, initially settling in Pomfret where she balanced raising two children with employment in the field of education, including posts at the Pomfret Community School, Pomfret School, the Rectory School and later the EastConn Educational Resource Center, where she wrote grants, a skill she took with her as a volunteer with a local children’s boating organization (now known as NESS).

She was a mainstay of local community theatre productions in the Pomfret area for many years, regularly performing in productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas as well as assisting backstage. In 1985, she and her husband, Nick, moved to Waterford, where she enjoyed boating, birdwatching and bridge. She will be remembered for her devotion to her family and friends, her wit, good humor and zest for life that mobility challenges in later years did not diminish.

She is survived by her daughter Jennifer and her husband, Robert Smith, of Edmonton, Canada; her son Geoffrey and his wife, Betty, of Baltimore, Md.; grandchildren Andrew, Rhys and Elly; and siblings Marsha, Nancy and Henry.

A memorial service may be held in the new year.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford, CT 06385 or to Connecticut Audobon Society, 314 Unquowa Road, Fairfield, CT 06824.

Please visit www.byles.com to sign the guestbook.