Carole L. Neitlich

Carole Neitlich, of Stoughton, formerly of Quincy, died at the Golden Living Center in Norwood, June 27, 2012. Carole’s interest and impact in the early childhood education of Greater Boston began at a time when the understanding of a young child’s capacity to learn was just being explored. She received her bachelor’s degree from the Eliot-Person Department of Child Study at Tufts University and a master’s in education from Wheelock College. After finishing her formal education, Carole spent 33 years teaching in the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston. She began at the JCC in Quincy, where she became the Regional Director of Early Childhood Education and eventually moved to the Striar Jewish Community Center in Stoughton. During her time as director, Carole oversaw the region’s three preschool programs, founded the Striar Center’s transitional kindergarten program, and began the Ledgewood Special Needs Unit of the JCCs of Greater Boston. Carole also initiated the Department of Early Childhood at Quincy College where she taught evening classes. Carole taught the first course. While anyone will tell you that her most joyous moments were when she was with children, Carole’s place in education was not confined to her early childhood programming or her adult classes. She played an active role in the community she was a part of serving as vice chair of the Mayor’s Commission on the Family as well as a member of the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women, both in Quincy. She was involved with community organizations such as Rosie’s Place and the Pine Street Inn in Boston, Project Helpline and MainSpring House in Brockton. Carole also helped start a newborn home-visiting program in Quincy as well as a parent-child early intervention literacy program. Furthermore, she was a founding board-member of DOVE, Inc., a shelter for domestic violence. Carole’s commitment to her Jewish faith and family values resonated most strongly with her unconditional patience and love for her own family. Carole developed and ran workshops and conferences for parents and families to learn about and discuss fathering, mothering, and interfaith relationships. Carole’s work has impacted over two generations of students and families directly and has created a sustainable systemic change in the early childhood education of Greater Boston and Massachusetts. She has left a legacy that will last beyond her place in education and beyond her life. For 49 years, she was the wife of the late Herbert L. Neitlich, and for the last three years, Phillip Chapman. She was the devoted mother of Dana Neitlich and Howard Levy, Russell and Colleen Neitlich and Drs. Jeffrey and Tyler Neitlich;.loving Nanie of Samara, Yakira, Russell, Michael, Nathan, Ariel and Joshua; loving sister of Roberta Bernstein and the late Herbert Goldberg. Services under the direction of Brezniak-Rodman Chapel, Newton, will be held at Ahavath Torah Congregation, 1179 Central St., Stoughton, Friday, June 29, at 12 p.m. Following the Interment in the Temple Emanuel Section of Lindwood Memorial Park, Randolph, a memorial observance will be at the Clubhouse at Knollsbrook Condominiums, 70 Erin Road, Stoughton until 8 pm. Memorial observance will continue at her late residence on Sunday 12-6 pm Remembrances may be made to the Carole L. Neitlich Memorial Fund for Early Childhood Education, C/O Ahavath Torah Congregation, 1179 Central Street, Stoughton, MA  02072.