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- Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI)
November 7, 2003
BEAVER DAM - Bertha Margaret Coskie Proctor died on Monday, Nov. 3, 2003, at the Laurels of Norworth, Worthington, Ohio, from complications following a stroke while visiting her son, Allen. She was born on July 6, 1913, in Northborough, Mass., to the late Joseph and Agatha (Anilauskas) Coskie.
A wonderful friend and a beautiful person, her grace and dignity led many friends to call her "Lady Bertha." She was so good at hugs, just when you most needed one. While her activities in life are extraordinary, she will be most dearly missed because of who she was and what she represented: a human being who was enormously kind, thoughtful, generous, and wis
She received her training as a registered nurse at the renowned Massachusetts General Hospital and an M.S. degree from Boston University, a rare level of advanced training for nurses in the 1940s. She worked at the world-famous Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, assisting on numerous rare operations in the historic "Ether Dome." She directed the nursing school at Concord, N.H., Hospital and founded the nursing school at Delaware Hospital. She was director of nursing at The Memorial Hospital in Worcester, Mass. On her arrival in Beaver Dam in 1949, she became the school nurse for Wayland Academy. Then she began a long career in nursing at St. Joseph's Hospital and Lutheran Hospital, training nursing assistants at Lutheran Hospital and later at Moraine Park Technical College. She later returned to pursue graduate work in gerontology and became the founding director of Lakeview (now Hillside) Manor. She was a longtime member of the American Nurses Association, Wisconsin Registered Nurses Association and Dodge County Nurses Association.
She had been an accomplished mezzo-soprano vocalist for much of her early life in Massachusetts - sometimes accompanied by her friend and then husband, David Proctor. As she continued her nursing career and raised a family, she did not share her vocal gifts publicly very much. However her love of music, opera, and the fine arts continued. She was among those who founded the Dodge County Community Concerts Association in the early 1950s, laying one of the building blocks for the foundation of the Beaver Dam area's interest in the arts. Upon her retirement in 1977, her unquenchable curiosity and creativity blossomed. She took up furniture refinishing and upholstery, caning and rushing to supply chairs for her home and family. She fulfilled a lifelong desire to learn the saxophone enough so she could give a recital for her friends. As arthritis began to limit some of those activities she turned to pottery making, where around the pottery wheel she formed a lifelong friendship and virtual sisterhood with Jennifer Rowan. When the Seippel Center for the Arts was established, she became involved as a docent and enjoyed extending her creativity to making felt hats and woven berry baskets.
A common sight to passersby was Bertha working in her yard and garden. Her love for plants and her profound knowledge were legendary. If a plant wasn't thriving, friends would take it to Bertha to restore it to health. She worked in her garden until the last. The emergence of her flower boxes was a sign that spring had arrived. In the past 15 years she took a great interest in orchids and proudly photographed the exquisite blossoms as each emerged. Since the passing of her husband, David, in 1997, she was able to devote herself even more strongly to her friends and community.
She volunteered for many years at Beaver Dam Community Hospital, cementing her longtime friendship with Gail Henschel, volunteering in the marketing department and by knitting baby hats - she was working on her last one in Ohio. As a good listener and concerned friend, she always had the kettle on for a cup of tea and a plate of cookies for anyone who stopped by at the 4 o'clock teatime. Connie Koehne, Sylvia Richards, June Schultz, Jennifer Rowan, and Bernie Sehloff, among others, would often stop for tea. Her friends all knew she would listen, she would not judge, and she would keep their confidences. Most recently she had been a devoted visitor and support for her dear departed friends Mary Swan and Jo Wells. She was able to continue to live independently and actively to the last because of the reliable support of Bob Schoenwetter, Mary Bushke, Kay Jillson and Jennifer Rowan.
Bertha M. Proctor is survived by her two sons, David and Allen. The Rev. David P. Proctor is a consultant to churches and nonprofit organizations in Providence, R.I. He and his wife, Diane, have three children, Alison, Sarah and Andrea. Dr. Allen J. Proctor is a financial consultant to senior executives and boards of directors in Worthington, Ohio. He and his wife, Dr. Gail A. Walter, have two children, Katie and Frank. Mrs. Proctor is also survived by her nephews, Roland Cassavant of Wakefield, Mass., Peter Coskie of Boylston, Mass., and John Coskie of Framingham, Mass.; her niece, Terry Nugent of Boylston, Mass.; and numerous grand-nephews and grand-nieces.
She was preceded in death by her husband, David G. Proctor; a sister, Anna Cassavant, a niece, Nathalie Lutfy; and two brothers, Joseph Coskie and John Coskie.
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1913 - 2003 (90 years)
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