Mandana Marsh Armstrong
Mandana Marsh Armstrong loved her family, loved her town and served both all her life. Her service to Branford was extensive and varied - it was all about building community. She was born in Waterville, Maine, on February 24, 1901, and died in Branford on March 25, 1981. We are very pleased that she is still remembered today and being honored as an inductee into the Branford Education Hall of Fame.
Mandy was a woman ahead of her time. She graduated from Wheaton College with a BA in History and then graduated with a MA in Biology from Brown University in 1922, long before the women's movement. After college she taught in private schools in New York and South Carolina. Fred Armstrong and Mandy married in 1928 and lived in various northeastern states. Four daughters were born, Mary Esborn and Dana Hopper of Branford, Nancy Normen of South Windsor and Betsy Demir of Woodbridge.
The family moved to Branford in 1944 and lived in the Branford Point area. Mandy began getting active in church and town affairs. The Harbor Street School PTA was a first focus. She became a long-term substitute teacher in the Branford Public Schools. Her daughters tell of Mom in high school classes. She was known for teaching and not just being there. She taught Latin, science courses, metal working; and when terrible sadness shook the high school when Coach Sampson died suddenly in 1952, she took on the boys physical education classes. She was always honored to be called "coach" even late in her life by boys, then men, who would see her and call her by that name.
In 1949, she was appointed to the first town Recreation Advisory Committee. That began a long period of service to recreation development in Branford and elsewhere - programs for children and youth, the Golden Age Club, the Branford Town Band and the building committee for the Community House. She was honored by the National Recreation Association for her dedication and work. The girls' softball league was named The Mandana Armstrong Girls’ Softball League. Her daughters have always wondered if part of her motivation was to keep them busy with positive and wholesome activities as they grew up. We well remember the dancing classes in which we all participated.
Mandy and Fred joined the First Congregational Church in 1946. Always active and serving on various boards and committees, she is remembered for her twelve years as Superintendent of the Church School. Then she founded the community nursery school housed at the church. For seventeen years she was chair of the Board of Directors and the school was named the Mandana Armstrong Nursery School soon after her death.
She clearly was an educator, a leader and manager. She was alert to opportunities to meet the recreation and education needs of the community and did something about it. Her family is honored and appreciative of this recognition of her.
Mandy was a woman ahead of her time. She graduated from Wheaton College with a BA in History and then graduated with a MA in Biology from Brown University in 1922, long before the women's movement. After college she taught in private schools in New York and South Carolina. Fred Armstrong and Mandy married in 1928 and lived in various northeastern states. Four daughters were born, Mary Esborn and Dana Hopper of Branford, Nancy Normen of South Windsor and Betsy Demir of Woodbridge.
The family moved to Branford in 1944 and lived in the Branford Point area. Mandy began getting active in church and town affairs. The Harbor Street School PTA was a first focus. She became a long-term substitute teacher in the Branford Public Schools. Her daughters tell of Mom in high school classes. She was known for teaching and not just being there. She taught Latin, science courses, metal working; and when terrible sadness shook the high school when Coach Sampson died suddenly in 1952, she took on the boys physical education classes. She was always honored to be called "coach" even late in her life by boys, then men, who would see her and call her by that name.
In 1949, she was appointed to the first town Recreation Advisory Committee. That began a long period of service to recreation development in Branford and elsewhere - programs for children and youth, the Golden Age Club, the Branford Town Band and the building committee for the Community House. She was honored by the National Recreation Association for her dedication and work. The girls' softball league was named The Mandana Armstrong Girls’ Softball League. Her daughters have always wondered if part of her motivation was to keep them busy with positive and wholesome activities as they grew up. We well remember the dancing classes in which we all participated.
Mandy and Fred joined the First Congregational Church in 1946. Always active and serving on various boards and committees, she is remembered for her twelve years as Superintendent of the Church School. Then she founded the community nursery school housed at the church. For seventeen years she was chair of the Board of Directors and the school was named the Mandana Armstrong Nursery School soon after her death.
She clearly was an educator, a leader and manager. She was alert to opportunities to meet the recreation and education needs of the community and did something about it. Her family is honored and appreciative of this recognition of her.