Alice Burton Potter

My aunt Marty wrote this obituary...

Alice B. Potter, daughter, scholar, wife, physician, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and elder left this world, at  99  years, on February 7, 2012

She was born in 1912 in Seattle, WA, to Louis Burton and Lela Reinert Burton. When she was two years old, the family moved east to Detroit, MI where she lived all of her childhood, youth, and much of her adulthood. She went to the Liggett School in Detroit and then Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, graduating in 1934. As a young girl her father had asked her what she thought she would like to do with her life, and when she answered she thought she might like to be a nurse, he said that was fine, but why not be a doctor? She thought that was a good idea.

A pioneer, as a 1938 female graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, she kept her medical head about her almost until the end of her life. She gave “iron shots” to neighbors in the 1950s and counsel and comfort to her assisted living neighbors into 2012.

She had many friends, co-workers, and compatriots. She fully supported her husband’s career as an attorney, in Detroit, her three children’s aspirations wherever they led, and, perhaps most enthusiastically, the strengths of her grandchildren and many great grandchildren all over the world. She followed their activities in the Philippines, California, Washington State, Michigan, and Massachusetts, and loved their parents. Within a truly intercultural and international family, she was central in her own unobtrusive way.  In 2008, she was convinced to move from AZ to VT to be near her family. They and all their family visitors are forever enriched by her time here.

She was predeceased by her husband, Ray L. Potter, of Sun City, AZ, in 1993 and her son, Louis B. Potter of Chicago, IL in 1997. She is survived by her two daughters, Susan P. Evangelista, of Palawan, Philippines, and her husband Oscar, and Martha P. Dewees, and her husband Donald, of North Ferrisburgh, VT, her devoted daughter-in-law Juanita Wright Potter of Chicago, IL, 9 beloved grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren, global citizens of the world.

According to her wishes, there will be no funeral. A private gathering will take place at the Lodge at Otter Creek at a later time. The family thanks with enormous appreciation and admiration, the many staff at the Lodge at Otter Creek, Middlebury, VT for their bright smiles, friendship, and incredibly diligent care, especially in the last weeks; Dr. Brian Kim, retinologist, FAHC for the understanding and treatment that allowed her to read, a cherished activity, until almost until the end; Patty Lewis, A.P.R.N., nurse practitioner, of Bristol for her time, kindness, and good humor, Hospice volunteers who provided respite, and especially Kathy Laframboise, R.N., of Addison County Home Health and Hospice, for her boundless compassion, honesty, and good will without which we would be bereft.

Donations may be made in her memory to Addison County Home Health and Hospice or Hospice Volunteer Services. Stephen C. Gregory of Shelburne is in charge of arrangements.