Carol Jane Getchell was born in 1939, in Danvers. Her mother was Hilda Dillon Hogg and her father Hugh E Getchell. Carol went to Billerica Memorial High School.
She graduated from Lowell State College in 1961. Her college yearbook describes her as a determined skier and that she has a unique sense of humor.
She was awarded her Master’s degree in education at Framingham in 1966 and was a teacher until 1964.
Carol is best known as the Principal of Stapleton Elementary School for 27 years – from 1971 through her retirement in 1998. The school library was named after her.
In 1998, she founded the Friends of Saxonville, where she worked hard to foster community spirit and promote Saxonville’s unique history and culture. She was also a member of the Framingham Historical Society (Framingham History Center).
She died at the age of 62 in Burlington after a sudden illness and is buried at the Edgell Memorial Cemetery in Framingham.
In the fall of 2001, Carol J. Getchell Nature Trail was constructed by the Friends of Saxonville in her memory. This trail follows the Sudbury River directly behind the Stapleton Elementary School.
Carol was a beloved member of the Framingham community who believed in equal rights for all. She worked tirelessly for her students and community.
The renovation of the Athenaeum was a top priority for her. She would appreciate the Friends of Saxonville continuing her work.