- Born on: March 2, 1933
- Departed on: January 19, 2016
- Resided in: Cedar Rapids, IA
Alice Letitia "Tish" Healey
Alice Letitia “Tish” Healey passed away on Jan. 19 from heart failure at the age of 82.
Tish was born on March 2, 1933 in Madison, Wisconsin to Francis and Lettie Dawson. She was raised in Iowa City, Iowa, graduated from University High School, and earned a BA in international relations from University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Tish married the love of her life, Ted Healey, on September 11, 1954. They enjoyed 61 years of marriage and raised three daughters: Susan Toussaint (John) of Appleton, WI; Carolyn Olson (David, deceased) of Minneapolis, MN; and Ellen Healey of Cedar Rapids, IA.
Tish had a deep interest in international affairs, politics and economics, and advocated for youth to experience different cultures throughout the world. She loved to travel and considered it an important part of her family’s education.
Music was a huge part of Tish’s life. She was a very accomplished pianist with a particular love of classical and sacred music. She and Ted enjoyed attending CR Symphony concerts, chamber concerts and many other musical performances in the area.
Tish was employed by Coe College as a counselor in the Career Services Center from 1972-1995. She provided one-on-one intensive help with reading, writing and time management, and presented workshops on career planning and job placement.
She particularly enjoyed finding internships, nationwide, for hundreds of Coe students. Tish frequently attended Coe College events, and particularly enjoyed weekly Coe Forums.
As an active community leader, Tish held multiple leadership positions and served on the executive committees of several Cedar Rapids organizations including: United Cerebral Palsy, Symphony Orchestra Association and the Junior League.
She was a long time volunteer of the Cedar Rapids Art Center, predecessor of the CR Art Museum, and founded the docent program in the 1960’s.
Tish was an active church member and held many leadership positions, including Elder, Trustee and Deacon at First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids. More recently, she had been an active and contributing member at First Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon.
Interested in visual arts, architecture and biblical archeology, Tish had a keen mind, was a critical thinker and problem solver. She was also a voracious reader and particularly loved participating in her couples book club for nearly 50 years.
Tish is survived by her husband and three daughters; four grandchildren, Elizabeth Toussaint (Joseph Koss), Ted Toussaint, Erik Olson, Nicklas Olson; sister, Ursula Bhatia of Spokane, WA; brother, John Dawson (Mary) of Santa Barbara, CA; and many nieces, nephews and close friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother and sister-in-law, Murray and Violet Dawson; her brother-in-law, Vishnu Bhatia; her sister, Susan Dawson; and her son-in-law, David Olson.
A visitation will be held at Meth-Wick Community, Greenwood Terrace, on Friday, January 29, from 2-4 pm. A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 30, at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Vernon, IA.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Vernon, 309 1st Street West, Mt. Vernon, IA 52314. The memorial funds will be designated for building accessibility or international service experiences for youth.
Tish was born on March 2, 1933 in Madison, Wisconsin to Francis and Lettie Dawson. She was raised in Iowa City, Iowa, graduated from University High School, and earned a BA in international relations from University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Tish married the love of her life, Ted Healey, on September 11, 1954. They enjoyed 61 years of marriage and raised three daughters: Susan Toussaint (John) of Appleton, WI; Carolyn Olson (David, deceased) of Minneapolis, MN; and Ellen Healey of Cedar Rapids, IA.
Tish had a deep interest in international affairs, politics and economics, and advocated for youth to experience different cultures throughout the world. She loved to travel and considered it an important part of her family’s education.
Music was a huge part of Tish’s life. She was a very accomplished pianist with a particular love of classical and sacred music. She and Ted enjoyed attending CR Symphony concerts, chamber concerts and many other musical performances in the area.
Tish was employed by Coe College as a counselor in the Career Services Center from 1972-1995. She provided one-on-one intensive help with reading, writing and time management, and presented workshops on career planning and job placement.
She particularly enjoyed finding internships, nationwide, for hundreds of Coe students. Tish frequently attended Coe College events, and particularly enjoyed weekly Coe Forums.
As an active community leader, Tish held multiple leadership positions and served on the executive committees of several Cedar Rapids organizations including: United Cerebral Palsy, Symphony Orchestra Association and the Junior League.
She was a long time volunteer of the Cedar Rapids Art Center, predecessor of the CR Art Museum, and founded the docent program in the 1960’s.
Tish was an active church member and held many leadership positions, including Elder, Trustee and Deacon at First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids. More recently, she had been an active and contributing member at First Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon.
Interested in visual arts, architecture and biblical archeology, Tish had a keen mind, was a critical thinker and problem solver. She was also a voracious reader and particularly loved participating in her couples book club for nearly 50 years.
Tish is survived by her husband and three daughters; four grandchildren, Elizabeth Toussaint (Joseph Koss), Ted Toussaint, Erik Olson, Nicklas Olson; sister, Ursula Bhatia of Spokane, WA; brother, John Dawson (Mary) of Santa Barbara, CA; and many nieces, nephews and close friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother and sister-in-law, Murray and Violet Dawson; her brother-in-law, Vishnu Bhatia; her sister, Susan Dawson; and her son-in-law, David Olson.
A visitation will be held at Meth-Wick Community, Greenwood Terrace, on Friday, January 29, from 2-4 pm. A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 30, at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Vernon, IA.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Vernon, 309 1st Street West, Mt. Vernon, IA 52314. The memorial funds will be designated for building accessibility or international service experiences for youth.
