Paula Natalie Nee Richmond Adriance

Paula Natalie Adriance

SANDWICH ; Paula Natalie Adriance, 60, an English teacher and curriculum coordinator at Prospect Mountain High School in Alton, died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, after a battle with cancer. Paula was an educational leader in the state of New Hampshire. She served on Gov. Jeanne Shaheen’s educational adequacy committee and was a school board member in the Inter-Lakes School District for 21 years, for 18 of which she served as chair. She was selected as New Hampshire School Board Member of the Year in 1990. She also served as president of the New Hampshire School Boards Association twice. As a member of the New Hampshire School Boards Association, she frequently taught workshops to other school boards. Paula served the community as an English teacher in the Inter-Lakes District, at Plymouth Regional High School, and most recently at Prospect Mountain High School in Alton. She was nominated for teacher of the year several times. While teaching at Prospect Mountain High School she also served as curriculum coordinator, adviser to the National Honor Society, and chair of the Instruction Committee. She will be greatly missed by her students and colleagues. She also served on the board of the New Hampshire Municipal Association Health Insurance Trust from 2002-2003. Paula was a graduate of Belknap College in Center Harbor, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970. In addition, she held a Masters of Education Law degree from Franklin Pierce Law Center, which she received in 2001. She was an avid SCUBA diver, and was certified as an instructor, enjoying deep wreck diving along the East Coast, from Maine to Florida. She was also a regular fixture at the Fitness Edge in Meredith, where she enjoyed training and pumping iron. Paula was born in Boston on June 15, 1947, and was the daughter of Julian and Edna Richmond. She was the wife of Edwin (Ted) L. Adriance, and mother of Vanessa C. Adriance, an attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Los Angeles. Other survivors include two brothers, Phillip and Peter Richmond. A memorial service is tentatively planned for Saturday, Nov. 25, 2007, at 2 p.m. in the Sandwich Central School gymnasium. Private burial was held in the Quaker Cemetery, in North Sandwich. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Paula N. Adriance Scholarship Fund would be welcome. Donations may be directed to Meredith Village Savings Bank, Rte. 25, Meredith, NH 03253. This fund will provide a scholarship to a student at Prospect Mountain High School who wishes to pursue a career related to the English language or literature such as writing or teaching. The Mayhew Funeral Home, in Meredith and Plymouth, assisted with the arrangements.

11/17/07-Paula Adriance Rememberance. I remember Paula when she first arrived at Belknap. She was one of two blondes that year, which year that was, I don’t remember, but mid 60’s. The first year Belknap was open in 1962, there were like 4 women, and the second year maybe 8, but my memory is not as good as others. Needless to say, Paula was a young woman full of life. Reading her obit also shows similar things. I have some fond memories of her while she was a student at Belknap as a friend. The Center Harbor Sport Shop was kinda a hang out for a variety of people and it was fun. I remember her diving thru the ice over beyond the Mount Washington “Cradle”-dry dock, with the Woodaman family. She was always very athletic and involved with not only her college community but also the local. I do not remember what state she came from, but it did not matter, she liked N.H. I went away to college and kinda lost track of her for awhile as we all do as we start our lives. But when i moved back to the area, I would run into her here or there. My kids all went to Inter Lakes and I would see her at their graduations; but never had a chance to talk with her. I was totally floored when I heard about her passing. I have met Ted a few times and they had a nice place over by Durgin bridge in Sandwich. She will be missed by alot of people. I hope some of the above words show her family just a bit more of her and how her big smile and laugh had an effect on a high school boy back in the 60’s when she would sometimes pick me up hitch hiking in her blue camaro. She was always around things going on, and would stand up to a lot of the guff the guys would be tossing about. She was a good person to know as a teenager growing up in Center Harbor. I don’t know what else to say but I will always remember her laugh and smile, and her giving Ronnie Ulm a run for his money sometimes.
Laconia Citizen Guestbook: http://www.legacy.com/Citizen/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=97905282