Valerie M. Chamberlain

Valerie Meyer Chamberlain, long time Vermont resident, died on August 17, 2023, in San Angelo, Texas. She always told people she may have hastened the Great Depression when she was born on October 29, 1929, and the banks closed. She was the mother of John Scott Chamberlain of Millersview, TX and his wife Tammy, and Jill LeBlanc of Hockley, TX, and her husband Michael.

Valerie was a graduate of Manhasset High School on Long Island. She received degrees from UVM and Florida State University in Family and Consumer Sciences. She taught countless future teachers at FSU, Texas Tech University, and UVM. She was also on the faculty during summers at the University of Hawaii, Penn State, Cornell, New Mexico State, and SUNNY Plattsburg.

Valerie wrote 10 textbooks, teacher resource guides, and numerous publications. One of her books was used in Canada, and another was translated into Japanese and used in schools in that country. One book was banned in Alabama because she was called a human secularist for having written that "every person has the capacity to be a successful individual in some way." Valerie gave presentations in 26 states, as well as in Canada and Japan.

Valerie received many awards throughout her career for her service, leadership, authorship, and professionalism. At UVM, she was the first woman to receive the Dean Emeritus Robert Sinclair Award for serving the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with distinction.

Valerie was the daughter of William and Dorothy Meyer. She is survived by her brother Bill Meyer of Roanoke, VA, as well as 5 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandsons. Among Valerie's many special friends are Merrilyn Cummings of Las Cruces, NM, Darlene Hicks of New Braunfels, TX, Carol Lewis of Irvine, CA, and Mirfy Mays of San Antonio, TX, and in the Burlington area Laura Allyn, Lyndon Carew, Jean Foster, Cindy Corkins, and Georgia Jeffords.

If you wish to honor Valerie, a gift to your local animal shelter would be appropriate.