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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Alison Mcdonald Shehadi
Alison Mcdonald
Shehadi
Aug 22, 1932 — Nov 7, 2016
Alison Mcdonald Shehadi's Obituary
Alison McDonald Shehadi, longtime teacher at Princeton Day School and chair of the Math Department, died peacefully at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ on November 7, 2016 surrounded by her children and son-in-law. She was 84.
Born Alison McDonald Shute, she grew up in Clinton, N.Y., daughter of Professor Berrian R. Shute, who founded the music department at Hamilton College, and pianist Flora McDonald Shute.
In 1949, Alison graduated from The Knox School in Cooperstown, N.Y., and went on to obtain a bachelor's degree from McGill University in Montreal. At McGill, she was a member of the "Merry Martlets" singing group and an officer of the Choral Society, through which she met Fadlou A. Shehadi, who was studying at McGill on a Rockefeller Fellowship. They became engaged in 1952, but Alison was determined to experience life on her own before marriage, so after graduation in 1953, she moved to New York to live with her sister, Margaret, and worked in a lab doing research on radioactive isotopes used in the treatment of cancer.
Alison and Fadlou married in 1954, at first living in New Brunswick, where Fadlou was on the faculty of Rutgers University, then moving to Princeton after the birth of their oldest son, Philip, in 1957. In 1959 Alison began teaching mathematics at Miss Fine's school, which in 1965 merged with Princeton Country Day School to become Princeton Day School. She had two more children, a daughter, Muna, in 1961, and another son, Charles, in 1964.
At PDS, she played important roles in many curriculum initiatives and faculty committees, and was appointed Chairman of the Math Department in 1977, a position she held until 1989. She also served as a member of the Middle States Evaluation Committee. Alison was a trusted advisor and had very strong relationships with students and advisees alike. She retired from teaching after thirty-plus years in 1992.
In retirement, Alison became a trustee at PDS, serving as a member of the Planning Committee, the Head of School Search Committee, and as chair of the Educational Policy Committee. She also became a docent at the Princeton University Art Museum and led frequent tours for all age groups, the younger ages being her favorites.
Alison was a fearless and passionate traveler who lived abroad several years of her life and took countless shorter trips to countries around the world. She had a deep love of history, music, art and mathematics, and was insatiably curious and interested in learning about everything and everyone around her. She was also a skilled seamstress, an astonishing cook and a flawless hostess. She and Fadlou attended concerts and operas both locally, in New York, Philadelphia, and in many cities abroad. Unfailingly respectful and polite, her wide smile and gracious nature seldom wavered. Few met her who didn't immediately respond to her charm and genuine warmth.
Alison will be missed by all who knew and loved her, but especially by her children, Muna and Charles, their respective spouses, Mark and Tracy, and her four devoted grandkids, Jason, Alec, Josie and Alice. She was preceded in death by her son Philip in 1991 and her husband Fadlou in 2012.
A service celebrating her life will be held at Stonebridge at Montgomery, 100 Hollinshead Spring Road in Skillman, NJ on Friday, November 18, 2016 at 11 a.m.
The family requests any donations in her memory be made to the Princeton University Art Museum, Elm Drive, Princeton, NJ 08544.
Born Alison McDonald Shute, she grew up in Clinton, N.Y., daughter of Professor Berrian R. Shute, who founded the music department at Hamilton College, and pianist Flora McDonald Shute.
In 1949, Alison graduated from The Knox School in Cooperstown, N.Y., and went on to obtain a bachelor's degree from McGill University in Montreal. At McGill, she was a member of the "Merry Martlets" singing group and an officer of the Choral Society, through which she met Fadlou A. Shehadi, who was studying at McGill on a Rockefeller Fellowship. They became engaged in 1952, but Alison was determined to experience life on her own before marriage, so after graduation in 1953, she moved to New York to live with her sister, Margaret, and worked in a lab doing research on radioactive isotopes used in the treatment of cancer.
Alison and Fadlou married in 1954, at first living in New Brunswick, where Fadlou was on the faculty of Rutgers University, then moving to Princeton after the birth of their oldest son, Philip, in 1957. In 1959 Alison began teaching mathematics at Miss Fine's school, which in 1965 merged with Princeton Country Day School to become Princeton Day School. She had two more children, a daughter, Muna, in 1961, and another son, Charles, in 1964.
At PDS, she played important roles in many curriculum initiatives and faculty committees, and was appointed Chairman of the Math Department in 1977, a position she held until 1989. She also served as a member of the Middle States Evaluation Committee. Alison was a trusted advisor and had very strong relationships with students and advisees alike. She retired from teaching after thirty-plus years in 1992.
In retirement, Alison became a trustee at PDS, serving as a member of the Planning Committee, the Head of School Search Committee, and as chair of the Educational Policy Committee. She also became a docent at the Princeton University Art Museum and led frequent tours for all age groups, the younger ages being her favorites.
Alison was a fearless and passionate traveler who lived abroad several years of her life and took countless shorter trips to countries around the world. She had a deep love of history, music, art and mathematics, and was insatiably curious and interested in learning about everything and everyone around her. She was also a skilled seamstress, an astonishing cook and a flawless hostess. She and Fadlou attended concerts and operas both locally, in New York, Philadelphia, and in many cities abroad. Unfailingly respectful and polite, her wide smile and gracious nature seldom wavered. Few met her who didn't immediately respond to her charm and genuine warmth.
Alison will be missed by all who knew and loved her, but especially by her children, Muna and Charles, their respective spouses, Mark and Tracy, and her four devoted grandkids, Jason, Alec, Josie and Alice. She was preceded in death by her son Philip in 1991 and her husband Fadlou in 2012.
A service celebrating her life will be held at Stonebridge at Montgomery, 100 Hollinshead Spring Road in Skillman, NJ on Friday, November 18, 2016 at 11 a.m.
The family requests any donations in her memory be made to the Princeton University Art Museum, Elm Drive, Princeton, NJ 08544.
To plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our tree store.
Funeral Services for Alison Mcdonald Shehadi
Memorial Service
November
18
Friday
Stonebridge at Montgomery
Starts at 11:00 am
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