Alice Richards Christopher

Alice Richards Christopher, 88, died peacefully Monday, June 15, at her home at Newbury Court, Concord, MA. She was married to Paul F. Christopher Jr. for 61 years until his death in June 2009. She lived in Bradford, MA from 1956 until November 2010 when she moved to Newbury Court.

Alice was born in Peterborough, NH, May 19, 1927, the daughter of Dr. Loren F. Richards and Helen Mitchell Richards of Nashua, NH. She graduated from Wellesley College Wellesley, MA in 1948 with a B.A. in English Literature and studied library science at Simmons College, Boston and education at Salem State College Salem, MA. She was a school librarian in the Haverhill Public School System in Haverhill, MA for more than 20 years where she dedicated herself to inspiring students to develop a passion for reading and learning. After their retirement, with great gusto, Alice and Paul traveled the world visiting China, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Italy and many other countries, including bravely venturing to St. Petersburg, Russia in the heart of winter.

Alice also generously donated her time and money to a wide range of charitable organizations, notably Friends of the Haverhill of Public Library and The Cliff Island Library Association. Throughout their lives together, Alice and Paul were fiercely active in the Democratic Party locally and nationally, participating in myriad campaigns in support of candidates as well as state, local and national legislation. In the five years she lived in Newbury Court, she thrived in the vibrant community where she enjoyed playing bridge, going on group excursions to museums, plays, nature reserves and historic sites in the area. She also found joy in her view of the changing seasons in the Sudbury River floodplain. She enjoyed the friendship and support of the many residents and staff she came to know at Newbury Court and Rivercrest. She was also an active part of the summer community at Cliff Island, ME for more than 50 years.

She was a lifelong avid reader with wide ranging interests. Later in life as her eyesight declined, she was nourished by books on tape produced by the Perkins School for the Blind.

She is survived by her children: Richard Joslyn Christopher and his wife, Mary Ziady of Willits, CA; Megan Hyde Christopher and her longtime partner, Richard Aslanian of Natick, MA; Abigail Carleton Christopher of Portland, OR and Paul Francis Christopher of Billings, MT; her sister Susanna Hill and nephews Declan and Patrick Hill of Ottawa, Canada; her nephew David Richards and his wife, Martha of Portland, OR; her niece, Samantha Theopulos of Keedysville, MD and several other much loved relatives and friends.

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Alice on Saturday, June 27 at 2PM in the Duvall Chapel at Newbury Court, 80 Deaconess Road, Concord, MA followed by a reception in the Great Room from 3-5PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Alice's memory to:
The Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library
175 North Beacon St.
Watertown, MA 02472.