Carol Hill Tatta

Carol Hill Tatta, age 76, noted educator, died peacefully at home on March 27th 2012. She is survived by her husband Joseph, her children - Jo, Drew, Sue and Ben, her sister Marilyn, brother Robert, brother-in-law Forrest, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Carol was recognized in the Philadelphia-area for her lifelong service to the education community and for her passion in helping children and their parents.

She attended Eastern College in the mid-1950's, returning after her marriage and the birth of her four children, to earn a B.A. degree in Early Childhood education in 1984. She continued her education at Temple University obtaining certification in Elementary Education and Special Education.

Her personal commitment to Christian and Early Childhood Education led her to obtain a teaching position at Central Baptist Nursery School (now Central Nursery School) for 5 years, then served as its director for 35 years. The Nursery School became so popular that it opened a second location at Christ Episcopal Church in Ithan. At both locations she introduced innovative programs such as the popular Parent-Toddler Circle. After introducing a parent education course, which proved to be very successful, she saw the need for a more permanent and expanded family education program and founded Family Forum in 1992. The Family Forum was a nonprofit parent education organization that offered parents courses and seminars to promote family well-being and personal growth.

" One of the lessons I learned at Eastern is the importance of forming healthy relationships," Carol said. "In fact it is the most important task in life and this has been the principal tenet of my whole career." She was able to form many relationships through her work, as well as volunteer work with almost two dozen professional, civic, and community organizations. Carol was co-founder of Babies and Children Support Group and consultant on special education for The Woodlynde School and the Center for Preschool Services/Special Education in Philadelphia and co-founded Parents and Friends of Exceptional Children. She found time to serve as a tutor at the Learning Center in Wayne for 12 years for children with learning difference.

Carol was a highly sought after speaker on the topic of parenting and co-authored a book titled, Parent Quest. She was Co-Director of ABC - All About Children and for five years she served as instructor in early childhood education at Eastern, as well as advisory board member on Early Childhood Education at the same institution.

She was a member of the Valley Brook Civic Association in Wayne and of the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology. In the past two years she was recognized by Eastern University as Alumna of the Year and by the Wayne Business Association with the Community Service Award.

Carol loved vacationing with her family in her native Maine

Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of her life on Saturday, April 14th at 10am in the McInnis Building Auditorium on the campus of Eastern University in St. Davids. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Eastern University for the Carol Tatta Memorial Award or Central Nursery School (Wayne) for the Carol Tatta Scholarship and Enrichment Fund.