Obituary: Doris Stockton, Professor Emerita of Mathematics

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Doris Grove (Skillman) Stockton, 94, of Belchertown, professor emerita of mathematics, died Dec. 13.

Born Feb. 9, 1924 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, she answered the call for women to study the sciences during World War II. She received her undergraduate degree from Douglas College of Rutgers in mathematics. She subsequently received her master’s degree and doctorate from Brown University, becoming the second woman to achieve that status.

She worked briefly at the University of Connecticut before beginning her 52-year career at UMass Amherst as an instructor in the department of mathematics in 1954. She retired as a professor in mathematics and statistics in 2006.

She had lived in Belchertown since 1953 and was a longtime member of Belchertown Congregational Church and served in various capacities there. She had a flair for photography and won many awards at the Belchertown Fair.

The widow of Frederick Douglas Stockton, she leaves two sons, Dr. Frederick Stockton and his wife Dr. Susan Solomon of Ottawa Hills, Ohio, and Thomas Stockton of Belchertown.

Donations in her memory may be made to Belchertown Historical Association Schoolhouse Fund, PO Box 1211, 20 Maple St., Belchertown, 01007; Belchertown Community Band, Box 484, Belchertown, 01007; or Belchertown United Church of Christ, 18 Park St., Belchertown, 01007.