ELIZABETH TROWBRIDGE

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Elizabeth “Jeem” Trowbridge, 91, Bangor teacher and active member of the local volunteer community, died Oct. 21, 2005, at the Highlands Living Center in Pittsford, N.Y., after a brief illness. Born Elizabeth Jane Chambers, Dec. 10, 1913, in Detroit, Mich., Mrs. Trowbridge grew up in Des Moines, Iowa. After her graduation in 1934 from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., she moved to New York City where she worked as a clerk in the statistical department of NBC Studios. Inspired by her love of adventure, she set sail for China in 1936, arriving in Shanghai on Christmas Eve. In 1937, she went to Nanking and worked for the Chinese Railway Administration. While in Nanking, she was briefly married to H.J. Timperly, an Australian correspondent for The Manchester Guardian. With the growing threat to China from the Japanese, she left Nanking in 1938, carrying secret reports documenting Japanese atrocities, the infamous “Rape of Nanking.” Many years later she wrote about this experience for American Heritage Magazine’s monthly feature, “My Brush with History.” After returning to New York City she was employed as a secretary by writer, John Gunther, who was preparing Inside Asia. Once a week she took flying lessons at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York, and achieved an entry level pilot’s license. In 1940 she married Dr. Mason Trowbridge, a physician in internal medicine and the brother of a college friend. They moved to Maine and after a brief stint in Lubec, her husband set up a medical practice in Ellsworth. Following the outbreak of World War II, the couple lived at various army bases in the United States where Dr. Trowbridge had been assigned to work in medical laboratories. The Trowbridge’s two daughters, Helen and Elizabeth, were born during these years and a third daughter, Jane, was born after their return to Maine. From 1947-1957 the family lived in Trenton, where Mrs. Trowbridge was active with the Girl Scouts. They later moved to Grove Street in Bangor. After receiving a masters degree from the University of Maine in 1958, Mrs. Trowbridge began teaching English at Fruit Street Junior High School. Later she taught at Bangor High School and remained on the faculty until her retirement in 1973. She was a supporter of the Model Schools Project. In 1965, she and Dr. Trowbridge moved to Brewer. She worked in her husband’s office until his retirement and after his death in 1979, began a long career of volunteering that continued until her 90th year. For many years she was an active member of Telecare at the Eastern Maine Medical Center, and was honored for having given 7000 volunteer hours to the organization. She served as a researcher at the Bangor Historical Society and was instrumental in the early days of restoring the Leonard’s Mills historical site, participating in Living History Days and serving as volunteer coordinator. She volunteered at the Bangor Public Library. In 1992, Mrs. Trowbridge was a nominee for the WLBZ Jefferson Award, which honors local “unsung heroes” who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition or reward. At age 89 she was reading stories to elementary school children. In her 70’s and 80’s she planned trips with each of her six grandchildren, when they turned 12, excursions as varied as visiting a dude ranch in Montana, cruising in the Virgin Islands and snorkeling in Hawaii. She is survived by her three daughters, Helen Hoffman of New York City, N.Y., Elizabeth Wild of Fairport, N.Y. and Jane Bertrand of New Orleans, La. and Baltimore, Md.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A family memorial service is to be held at a later date. Contributions in her memory may be made to the organizations that benefited from her service.