Elaine M. Hardie

Elaine M. Hardie of Concord, passed away peacefully on June 13, 2015. She was 94 years old.

After receiving her degree from Bates College, Miss Hardie began teaching French at Concord-Carlisle High School in 1946. She received her Master Degree in French from Middlebury College in 1959. Later, in 1982, she went back to Simmons College to earn a Master of Science in Special Education.

Miss Hardie's distinguished career at CCHS lasted 46 years. She served as Chair of the high school French Department multiples times over her tenure. She received five merit awards for outstanding teaching at CCHS.

Among the numerous awards she received, the most prestigious was the Fulbright Interchange Teach Grant to teach at the Lycee Jeanne D'Arc in Rouen, France. In 1961 she was named one of the outstanding teachers of foreign languages in the United States by the Modern Language Association of America.

Believing that future businessmen and women must know how to speak many languages in order to succeed, she spearheaded the establishment of the first language lab in a public high school in 1957. Prior to the establishment of a language lab, students concentrated on learning to read a language, rather than speak it fluently. In addition, she co-authored a textbook called French for Communication, and book, Sound Language Teaching: Introduction.

In 1985, as the crowning achievement of a remarkable career, the French government named Miss Hardie a Chevalier dans L'Ordre des Palmes Academiques. The "Palmes" is the highest recognition bestowed by the French government upon a non-French citizen for promotion of French language and culture.

Miss Hardie retired after 46 years but she continued to share her talents with the community. She served on the board of the Concord Council on Aging, the Concord Women's Club, and Minuteman Home Care (now called Minuteman Senior Services). She researched her family history and when she located a Revolutionary War ancestor she joined the Concord chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Also in her retirement, Miss Hardie traveled widely including to Egypt and China. She enjoyed many crafts including stained glass and card-making.

Miss Hardie was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd C. Hardie and Isabel (Gilbert) Hardie, and her beloved nephew John Rasys, formerly of Vermont. She is survived by her beloved nieces and nephews: Philip L Rasys of Nevada, Everett E. Rasys of Maine, Isabel Rasys Sousa of New Hampshire, George J. Rasys, Jr. of New Hampshire, and Constance Rasys of Florida.

Interment in New Cemetery, Berlin, NH private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Concord Council on Aging
1276 Main Street
Concord, MA 01742