Louise Tietjen

Louise Tietjen, born June 12, 1926, died in Hospice on December 2nd after a brief illness. She spent her last days in the company of family and friends, enjoying the good things in life. Louise was a 50-year resident of Old Saybrook. She exemplified community spirit in her lifetime and her legacy will endure. Louise McElroy was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Upon graduation from Smith College in 1948, Louise began service work for a Quaker organization in Mexico. Louise met Richard Tietjen at an international conference and they married in 1950. She remained active in community service throughout her years while raising three children: Richard, Ramsey, and Sarah. She helped to establish libraries in Old Saybrook schools and worked on the planning and development of the Acton Public Library. She was the head librarian of the Westbrook Schools for twenty years. Louise was a committed member of the Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society and, for over forty years, sang with Barry Asch's Cappella Cantorum. Louise was a cornerstone of her neighborhood. She grew a fabulous garden and maintained an open door for fifty years. Louise and her husband Richard Tietjen travelled all over Europe, China, South America, Mexico, and Australia. Together they enjoyed good food, good books, and most importantly, politics. Louise was an avid reader of the newspaper and stayed connected to the news of the world until the very end. Louise supported the Arts and encouraged her children and grandchildren's creative endeavors. She provided them with many opportunities to laugh and appreciate the everyday as well as the special occasion, an area in which she excelled. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Richard Tietjen, her children Ramsey and Sarah;their spouses Toni Silver and Richard Smith; and her grandchildren Rachel, Chloe and Erika Tietjen, and Nathaniel and Olivia Smith. A memorial service will be held at the Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society in Madison at a later date. For information regarding the service please contact 203-245-8720. Memorial contributions may be made to support UNICEF Children's Fund.