M. Virginia Drew

Virginia Doherty Drew passed away on Monday, January 12, one day after her 97th birthday. She was pre-deceased by Albert Doherty, her husband of forty-five years and by Dana Drew, her husband of nineteen years.

Born in Portland, Maine, Virginia graduated from the University of Maine where she met both of her future husbands and developed her life-long love for literature, writing and drama. She was an All-Maine Woman, an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Scabbard and Blade and a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority Upon graduating from college, she hosted a daily radio program in Portland, Maine and later was a production assistant for the “Today Show.” She wrote the script for a film-strip entitled, “Women in the American Revolution” which was produced for elementary schools.

In Forest Hills Gardens, New York, where she lived for thirty years with her husband Albert, she was President of the Women's Club, and held various leadership positions in the volunteer auxiliary of the Visiting Nurse Association of New York City. She was also a regular star of community theater productions. When she and Albert retired to Chatham, Massachusetts, she was active in the Women's Club, the Garden Club, the Eldredge Public Library and the Auxiliary of the Cape Cod Hospital. A member of Eastward Ho!, she served on the Executive Committee and wrote the club history.

Virginia will be remembered by all who knew for her intelligence, charm, graciousness and (at times irreverent) sense of humor. She was a natural leader who valued the opinion of others.

Virginia is survived by her daughter Deborah Geller and her husband Daniel and her niece Susan Rosenberger and her husband Russell, grand-nephew Justin Rosenberger, grand-niece Abigail Hibbitts and husband Kevin and their children Jack and Emmet. She is also survived by her nieces Linda Paul and her husband Kent and Jackie Frawley and her husband Al and their respective families.

Her family would like to thank the staff of Broadreach Healthcare Liberty Commons who so lovingly cared for her and where she was so happy. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to Broadreach Hospice, 390 Orleans Road, North Chatham 02650. A memorial service will be held in the spring.