Harriet Ward Schley

Harriet Wald Schley, surrounded by her loving husband, children and grandchildren, passed peacefully on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 after brief illness. She had just celebrated her 90th birthday. Her expressed birthday wish to everyone she loved was to know she had lived a long and wonderful life.

Harriet was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on April 27, 1925, the daughter of Lewis and Freda Wald, and sister to Bob and Lois. She attended the Bancroft School graduating in 1943, and Wellesley College in 1947. She was proud of these schools and was a life long attendee at Wellesley reunions, active in the alumni community and later president of the Wellesley college club in Naples, Florida.

She was proud of her classical education. She was famous for the fact that not one of her children ever asked her the meaning of a vocabulary word that she didn’t know. She majored in Spanish at Wellesley, traveled to Mexico, Oaxaca in the 1940’s and spoke accent-less Spanish for the rest of her life.

On Thanksgiving weekend in 1947, at party in New York City where alcohol may have been served, she met Leonard L. Schley, recent Cornell graduate and naval officer in the Pacific. Len said he was taken with her from the moment he saw her. He famously asked for her hand in marriage within 12 minutes of hearing her cultured accent. She categorically denied noticing his movie star looks and charm at all. Nevertheless they were married less than a year later in September 1948--marriage that lasted for the next 67 years.

Soon thereafter they moved from New York to the Boston area where they raised children Martha, Billy, Danny and Sara in Brookline, MA.

Once her children were grown, Harriet went to Boston University to earn a Masters in Social Work. Always close to her mother Freda and older relatives, she had a particular affinity for the elderly and went on to specialize in geriatric services. She began this passionate pursuit at age 50 and worked in private practice until the she was 77 serving the elderly, infirm and those in need.

Harriet and Len led a rewarding life. They traveled extensively -- to Israel and Egypt, to the Canadian Rockies, to Europe and China and Japan. They were adventurous, enjoying the fruits of Len’s success as an entrepreneur in the electronics industry.

In 1962, after vacationing summers on the Cape and Martha’s Vineyard they found their way to Cataumet, MA and began another important chapter in their family’s life. They built a house on Scraggy Neck in 1968 which has become a focal point of family gatherings, Thanksgivings and weddings ever since.

In typical community-oriented fashion, Harriet served as chairwoman of the Scraggy Neck Residents Association. They were also fortunate to spend winters in Naples, FL where Harriet was a constant participant on committees and boards.

She was a unabashed, life-long liberal Democrat who would take up the cause in any gathering where she felt the progressive point of view needed articulate representation.

She was a witty, avid "letter to the editor" writer, whenever she felt compelled to expose an injustice or some inexplicable behavior by an elected official.

Throughout her life, Harriet loved to read and read everything. She had a natural elegance and sense of sophistication and style. But she would be the first to tell you that the capstone of her life was her four children and 10 grandchildren. They buoyed her through her illness, sending cards and email, calling and spending time with her until her final, peaceful moments.

She will be greatly missed by those who were lucky enough to know her and love her.

Services at the Falmouth Jewish Congregation Community Center, 7 Hatchville Road, East Falmouth on Thursday, May 28 at 1:00pm, with burial following in Falmouth Jewish Cemetery. Memorial observance will be held at the Schley residence following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the charity of your choice in Harriet's honor.