MARGARETVILLE, NY — The Village of Margaretville lost one of its most committed, active and vibrant citizens Monday, May 10, 2004, when Dawn B. Roadman, 82, a prominent businesswoman and civic leader, died at her home surrounded by family and friends.
Dawn was a longtime board member of the Margaretville Telephone Company, and served as its president from 1974 to 1980. She was an energetic leader in many of the community's prominent cultural and civic organizations, including the Fairview Public Library, the Margaretville Memorial Hospital, and the Erpf Cultural Center.
Doris Dawn Birdsall was born in Fleischmanns on Oct. 25, 1921, to Sheldon Birdsall and Madeline Avery Birdsall.
As a child, Dawn worked as a telephone operator in her family's business: a small telephone company that her grandfather, John Birdsall had bought from New York Telephone in 1917. The main switchboard was in the Birdsall home until 1962, when the company moved to its current location on Swart Street.
Dawn graduated from Margaretville Central School in 1939. She attended Syracuse University, where she received a degree in library science. While at Syracuse, she met Keene Roadman, a doctoral student in political science and married him on the day she graduated May 9, 1943. Shortly after, Keene enlisted in the Armed Forces.
After the war, the couple moved to Washington, D.C., where their son Larry was born, and later to Baltimore, Md., where their daughter Karen was born. While in Baltimore, Dawn served as vice president of the PTA at the Towson Senior High School, over which future United States Vice President Spiro Agnew presided.
Dawn and Keene returned to Margaretville in 1964, where Keene assumed the presidency of the Margaretville Telephone Company. Dawn became deeply involved in the life of the community.
She was an officer of the hospital auxiliary, a founder of the Erpf Catskill Cultural Center, an active member of the Presbyterian congregations in Margaretville and New Kingston and a community organizer on behalf of the Fairview Public Library.
Long before the Internet and the personal computer made the information age a reality, Dawn worked to connect these small mountain towns to the broader world through the free access of information. She worked closely with libraries throughout the region on book exchange systems, and helped to make Margaretville aware of its library's resources. She also led the long effort to find the Fairview Public Library a permanent home, spearheading the fund-raising drive and selecting the architect.
After many years of service on the hospital auxiliary board, Dawn was appointed to serve as a public liaison and representative of the community to the Margaretville Memorial Hospital, a position the hospital board created expressly for her.
Dawn also financed the donation of Binnekill Park to the Village of Margaretville, as well as the renovation of the Hussy Building on the corner of Main and Walnut streets.
Dawn assumed the presidency of the Margaretville Telephone Company after her husband's death in 1974.
In 1979, Dawn married Art Williams, a retiree. The couple divorced in 1983.
Dawn was an avid world traveler, whose voyages spanned four continents and almost every state in the Union. She often traveled alone, or with her close friends Harriet Smith and Betty Sanford, and delighted in cultural odysseys and unpredictable destinations.
"She was ahead of her time in every way. She was a businesswoman, a community leader," said Terry Cohen, who worked alongside her on the hospital auxiliary and at the ERPF Center. "Her representing the telephone company showed that the business cared about the life of the community."
In June of 1995, Dawn suffered a stroke, which left her unable to live independently. She lived briefly at Kirkside Adult Home in Roxbury, before moving to the Mountainside Residential Care Center. She lived at Mountainside until her death.
Dawn is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Betsy Roadman; her daughter, Karen Harris and fiance, Steven Jenkins; and four grandchildren, Keene Roadman, Christian Roadman, Lissa Harris and Avery Jenkins.
There will be a burial service open to all at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 13, 2004, at the Old Margaretville Cemetery on Cemetery Road. A memorial service open to the community will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, at the United Presbyterian Church, Margaretville.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Fairview Public Library or the Margaretville Memorial Hospital.
Arrangements by the Hynes Funeral Home, Margaretville.
Dawn was a longtime board member of the Margaretville Telephone Company, and served as its president from 1974 to 1980. She was an energetic leader in many of the community's prominent cultural and civic organizations, including the Fairview Public Library, the Margaretville Memorial Hospital, and the Erpf Cultural Center.
Doris Dawn Birdsall was born in Fleischmanns on Oct. 25, 1921, to Sheldon Birdsall and Madeline Avery Birdsall.
As a child, Dawn worked as a telephone operator in her family's business: a small telephone company that her grandfather, John Birdsall had bought from New York Telephone in 1917. The main switchboard was in the Birdsall home until 1962, when the company moved to its current location on Swart Street.
Dawn graduated from Margaretville Central School in 1939. She attended Syracuse University, where she received a degree in library science. While at Syracuse, she met Keene Roadman, a doctoral student in political science and married him on the day she graduated May 9, 1943. Shortly after, Keene enlisted in the Armed Forces.
After the war, the couple moved to Washington, D.C., where their son Larry was born, and later to Baltimore, Md., where their daughter Karen was born. While in Baltimore, Dawn served as vice president of the PTA at the Towson Senior High School, over which future United States Vice President Spiro Agnew presided.
Dawn and Keene returned to Margaretville in 1964, where Keene assumed the presidency of the Margaretville Telephone Company. Dawn became deeply involved in the life of the community.
She was an officer of the hospital auxiliary, a founder of the Erpf Catskill Cultural Center, an active member of the Presbyterian congregations in Margaretville and New Kingston and a community organizer on behalf of the Fairview Public Library.
Long before the Internet and the personal computer made the information age a reality, Dawn worked to connect these small mountain towns to the broader world through the free access of information. She worked closely with libraries throughout the region on book exchange systems, and helped to make Margaretville aware of its library's resources. She also led the long effort to find the Fairview Public Library a permanent home, spearheading the fund-raising drive and selecting the architect.
After many years of service on the hospital auxiliary board, Dawn was appointed to serve as a public liaison and representative of the community to the Margaretville Memorial Hospital, a position the hospital board created expressly for her.
Dawn also financed the donation of Binnekill Park to the Village of Margaretville, as well as the renovation of the Hussy Building on the corner of Main and Walnut streets.
Dawn assumed the presidency of the Margaretville Telephone Company after her husband's death in 1974.
In 1979, Dawn married Art Williams, a retiree. The couple divorced in 1983.
Dawn was an avid world traveler, whose voyages spanned four continents and almost every state in the Union. She often traveled alone, or with her close friends Harriet Smith and Betty Sanford, and delighted in cultural odysseys and unpredictable destinations.
"She was ahead of her time in every way. She was a businesswoman, a community leader," said Terry Cohen, who worked alongside her on the hospital auxiliary and at the ERPF Center. "Her representing the telephone company showed that the business cared about the life of the community."
In June of 1995, Dawn suffered a stroke, which left her unable to live independently. She lived briefly at Kirkside Adult Home in Roxbury, before moving to the Mountainside Residential Care Center. She lived at Mountainside until her death.
Dawn is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Betsy Roadman; her daughter, Karen Harris and fiance, Steven Jenkins; and four grandchildren, Keene Roadman, Christian Roadman, Lissa Harris and Avery Jenkins.
There will be a burial service open to all at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 13, 2004, at the Old Margaretville Cemetery on Cemetery Road. A memorial service open to the community will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, at the United Presbyterian Church, Margaretville.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Fairview Public Library or the Margaretville Memorial Hospital.
Arrangements by the Hynes Funeral Home, Margaretville.
MARGARETVILLE, NY — The Village of Margaretville lost one of its most committed, active and vibrant citizens Monday, May 10, 2004, when Dawn B. Roadman, 82, a prominent businesswoman and civic leader, died at her home surrounded by family and friends.
Dawn was a longtime board member of the Margaretville Telephone Company, and served as its president from 1974 to 1980. She was an energetic leader in many of the community's prominent cultural and civic organizations, including the Fairview Public Library, the Margaretville Memorial Hospital, and the Erpf Cultural Center.
Doris Dawn Birdsall was born in Fleischmanns on Oct. 25, 1921, to Sheldon Birdsall and Madeline Avery Birdsall.
As a child, Dawn worked as a telephone operator in her family's business: a small telephone company that her grandfather, John Birdsall had bought from New York Telephone in 1917. The main switchboard was in the Birdsall home until 1962, when the company moved to its current location on Swart Street.
Dawn graduated from Margaretville Central School in 1939. She attended Syracuse University, where she received a degree in library science. While at Syracuse, she met Keene Roadman, a doctoral student in political science and married him on the day she graduated May 9, 1943. Shortly after, Keene enlisted in the Armed Forces.
After the war, the couple moved to Washington, D.C., where their son Larry was born, and later to Baltimore, Md., where their daughter Karen was born. While in Baltimore, Dawn served as vice president of the PTA at the Towson Senior High School, over which future United States Vice President Spiro Agnew presided.
Dawn and Keene returned to Margaretville in 1964, where Keene assumed the presidency of the Margaretville Telephone Company. Dawn became deeply involved in the life of the community.
She was an officer of the hospital auxiliary, a founder of the Erpf Catskill Cultural Center, an active member of the Presbyterian congregations in Margaretville and New Kingston and a community organizer on behalf of the Fairview Public Library.
Long before the Internet and the personal computer made the information age a reality, Dawn worked to connect these small mountain towns to the broader world through the free access of information. She worked closely with libraries throughout the region on book exchange systems, and helped to make Margaretville aware of its library's resources. She also led the long effort to find the Fairview Public Library a permanent home, spearheading the fund-raising drive and selecting the architect.
After many years of service on the hospital auxiliary board, Dawn was appointed to serve as a public liaison and representative of the community to the Margaretville Memorial Hospital, a position the hospital board created expressly for her.
Dawn also financed the donation of Binnekill Park to the Village of Margaretville, as well as the renovation of the Hussy Building on the corner of Main and Walnut streets.
Dawn assumed the presidency of the Margaretville Telephone Company after her husband's death in 1974.
In 1979, Dawn married Art Williams, a retiree. The couple divorced in 1983.
Dawn was an avid world traveler, whose voyages spanned four continents and almost every state in the Union. She often traveled alone, or with her close friends Harriet Smith and Betty Sanford, and delighted in cultural odysseys and unpredictable destinations.
"She was ahead of her time in every way. She was a businesswoman, a community leader," said Terry Cohen, who worked alongside her on the hospital auxiliary and at the ERPF Center. "Her representing the telephone company showed that the business cared about the life of the community."
In June of 1995, Dawn suffered a stroke, which left her unable to live independently. She lived briefly at Kirkside Adult Home in Roxbury, before moving to the Mountainside Residential Care Center. She lived at Mountainside until her death.
Dawn is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Betsy Roadman; her daughter, Karen Harris and fiance, Steven Jenkins; and four grandchildren, Keene Roadman, Christian Roadman, Lissa Harris and Avery Jenkins.
There will be a burial service open to all at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 13, 2004, at the Old Margaretville Cemetery on Cemetery Road. A memorial service open to the community will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, at the United Presbyterian Church, Margaretville.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Fairview Public Library or the Margaretville Memorial Hospital.
Arrangements by the Hynes Funeral Home, Margaretville.
Dawn was a longtime board member of the Margaretville Telephone Company, and served as its president from 1974 to 1980. She was an energetic leader in many of the community's prominent cultural and civic organizations, including the Fairview Public Library, the Margaretville Memorial Hospital, and the Erpf Cultural Center.
Doris Dawn Birdsall was born in Fleischmanns on Oct. 25, 1921, to Sheldon Birdsall and Madeline Avery Birdsall.
As a child, Dawn worked as a telephone operator in her family's business: a small telephone company that her grandfather, John Birdsall had bought from New York Telephone in 1917. The main switchboard was in the Birdsall home until 1962, when the company moved to its current location on Swart Street.
Dawn graduated from Margaretville Central School in 1939. She attended Syracuse University, where she received a degree in library science. While at Syracuse, she met Keene Roadman, a doctoral student in political science and married him on the day she graduated May 9, 1943. Shortly after, Keene enlisted in the Armed Forces.
After the war, the couple moved to Washington, D.C., where their son Larry was born, and later to Baltimore, Md., where their daughter Karen was born. While in Baltimore, Dawn served as vice president of the PTA at the Towson Senior High School, over which future United States Vice President Spiro Agnew presided.
Dawn and Keene returned to Margaretville in 1964, where Keene assumed the presidency of the Margaretville Telephone Company. Dawn became deeply involved in the life of the community.
She was an officer of the hospital auxiliary, a founder of the Erpf Catskill Cultural Center, an active member of the Presbyterian congregations in Margaretville and New Kingston and a community organizer on behalf of the Fairview Public Library.
Long before the Internet and the personal computer made the information age a reality, Dawn worked to connect these small mountain towns to the broader world through the free access of information. She worked closely with libraries throughout the region on book exchange systems, and helped to make Margaretville aware of its library's resources. She also led the long effort to find the Fairview Public Library a permanent home, spearheading the fund-raising drive and selecting the architect.
After many years of service on the hospital auxiliary board, Dawn was appointed to serve as a public liaison and representative of the community to the Margaretville Memorial Hospital, a position the hospital board created expressly for her.
Dawn also financed the donation of Binnekill Park to the Village of Margaretville, as well as the renovation of the Hussy Building on the corner of Main and Walnut streets.
Dawn assumed the presidency of the Margaretville Telephone Company after her husband's death in 1974.
In 1979, Dawn married Art Williams, a retiree. The couple divorced in 1983.
Dawn was an avid world traveler, whose voyages spanned four continents and almost every state in the Union. She often traveled alone, or with her close friends Harriet Smith and Betty Sanford, and delighted in cultural odysseys and unpredictable destinations.
"She was ahead of her time in every way. She was a businesswoman, a community leader," said Terry Cohen, who worked alongside her on the hospital auxiliary and at the ERPF Center. "Her representing the telephone company showed that the business cared about the life of the community."
In June of 1995, Dawn suffered a stroke, which left her unable to live independently. She lived briefly at Kirkside Adult Home in Roxbury, before moving to the Mountainside Residential Care Center. She lived at Mountainside until her death.
Dawn is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Betsy Roadman; her daughter, Karen Harris and fiance, Steven Jenkins; and four grandchildren, Keene Roadman, Christian Roadman, Lissa Harris and Avery Jenkins.
There will be a burial service open to all at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 13, 2004, at the Old Margaretville Cemetery on Cemetery Road. A memorial service open to the community will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, at the United Presbyterian Church, Margaretville.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Fairview Public Library or the Margaretville Memorial Hospital.
Arrangements by the Hynes Funeral Home, Margaretville.
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