Obituary

Marjorie East, obituary

Fri, 08/01/2014 - 10:15pm

ROCKLAND — Marjorie Schufeldt East, 97, passed away peacefully on July 30, 2014, in the comfort of her own home and among her family in Rockland.

Born Sept. 3, 1916, in Los Angeles, Calif., she was raised and educated in the hills of southern California. She earned her undergraduate credentials at UCLA, and her master’s and doctorate degrees at Columbia University in the 1940s, as well as an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of Maine.

The author of several books and countless articles in her field (home economics), Marjorie held positions at Simmons, Antioch and finally, after a short period at Houghton Mifflin, Dr. East chaired the Home Economics Department at Penn State University for more than two decades (1960s-1970s). Beyond her academic career, she was on the board of directors of Consumer Reports with Ralph Nader, a member of economic councils for two presidential administrations (Nixon and Johnson), the president of the Home Economics Association of America (1972-73), and a participant on planned-parenthood missions to India and Indonesia. After her retirement to Rockland with her husband, James N. East, who died in 1994, Dr. East turned her energies to the Rockland Historical Society, the improvement of the Rockland Public Library, the daily completion of the New York Times' crossword puzzle, the restoration of her 1860s home on Limerock Street and sailing the Penobscot Bay.

Foremost among her enthusiasms, perhaps the single greatest mark of her character, was the support and love for her family and the houses in which they lived, unflinching in both good and hard times. For her, a house and a family were the same thing.

She is survived by her nephew, James H. East and his wife, Stephanie T., and their son, James S. East.

There will be a memorial celebration for her work and life at her home on Limerock Street.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Rockland Historical Society, PO Box 1331, Rockland, ME 04841.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home.