Edith Jaquiery

Edith Grey Jaquiery, age 89, died on December 27, 2022 at Cape Cod Hospital surrounded by her family. She was a longtime resident of North Branford, CT and Dennis, MA. Edie was born in Manhattan, NY on August 20, 1933, the only child of Evelyn Hemingson and Mayne Frederick Grey.

Edie’s tireless work ethic emerged when she worked as a child model as a little girl. A young Edie was greatly amused by seeing her image in ads posted all over NYC and throughout the subways. A true New Yorker, Edie could navigate the NYC subway at a young age in her neighborhood near Yankee Stadium. Edie went to live with her beloved Aunt Edith and Uncle Jim Cirillo after the death of her mother when she was 11 years old. Edie moved often as a child, living in NY, FL, and CT, and eventually graduating from Meriden High School.

Edie managed the New Meriden Theater while obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in English and Psychology from New Britain State Teachers College (now CCSU). Edie continued to manage the movie theater while teaching English at Lincoln Middle School, where she served as president of the teachers union.

As union president, Edie led the way for teachers to have the right to teach in the classroom while pregnant. Edie went on to earn a Master’s degree from Trinity College, one of the first female students to be admitted to Trinity.

Edie married her husband Bill in 1962 and went on to raise three children and a husband. In 1978 she earned her Ph.D. in Counseling/ Education from Union Institute, specializing in Alcohol and Drug Counseling. She received additional advanced training at Yale University. Edie worked tirelessly at the state and local levels to bring services to people struggling with addiction, and to train other substance abuse clinicians. Edie worked on state and national certification boards to help create an exam to certify addiction counselors. She worked in various leadership roles to provide mental health and addiction services with many agencies throughout CT, from the Alcohol Council of Greater New Haven, CT. Department of Corrections, South Central Connecticut Agency on Aging, Stonington Institute, and Wheeler Clinic, to name a few.

Edie’s love for teaching brought her to South Central Community College (now Gateway CC), where she taught and became department chair of the Human Services department. Edie, who was affectionately known as “Dr. J” to her students, rose through many positions at SCCC to become Academic Dean. During her tenure, Edie helped to establish academic programs in radiology, nutrition, and drug and alcohol counseling (DARC program), as well as establishing a Head Start program at the college for the children of working mothers. Edie mentored many aspiring counselors, many of whom were single mothers, to achieve their dreams of working as counselors. She supervised several clinicians while obtaining their Ph.Ds. After her retirement from the college, Edie worked at Wheeler Clinic to create a program for health care providers to become certified as counselors in a joint venture with the State of CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Edie retired again to embark on her final career as beach goer and grandmother/babysitter. Edie enjoyed reading, writing, playing bridge, traveling, and hanging out on the beach in Cape Cod with her family and friends. Edie and Bill traveled extensively throughout the USA, Europe, and the Caribbean (including traveling to Bill’s car club meets with the Marmon Club). While she excelled and earned many awards throughout her career, Edie was most proud of her family. Her 60-year marriage to Bill created their legacy. Edie adored, and was adored by her family, and a large circle of friends. In addition to her husband of 60 years, survivors include three children, David Jaquiery of Meriden, CT Paul (Meryl) Jaquiery of Westport, CT, Ellen ( James) Paul of Southington, CT and five grandchildren, Erin and Ali Jaquiery of Westport, CT and Alissa, Amy, and Matthew Paul of Southington, CT.

Services will be private. To share a memory or leave a condolence, please visit www.doanebealamesdennis. com .