Therese Bailey

Biography

Therese Anita Bailey (nee Russo), a long-time resident of Old Stagecoach Lake, Monson MA, passed away on Friday, March 23, 2012. Tess Bailey was born to Giuseppe and Lorenzina DiErrica Russo in West Springfield MA. She graduated from high school in West Springfield, attended college at Westfield State Teacher College, and did her graduate work at American International College. Tess worked as a teacher for more than 30 years in Wilbraham MA and Stafford CT. She married Harold G. Bailey, Sr. in 1950 in West Springfield, and moved to Monson MA thereafter. Her husband predeceased her in 1989. Tess is survived by her son Harold G. Bailey, Jr. of Washington, DC, a granddaughter Allison Bailey and her sister Angeline Russo Kozaira of West Springfield. She was predeceased by her siblings, Patrick, Frederick, Albert and Margaret.

Tess started her career by working in high school as a counselor at Camp Frederick Edwards in Westfield MA. At that time, she was also the tennis doubles champion of West Springfield MA. She then worked for the City of Springfield public health agency to identify potential tuberculosis cases. Tess was certified to teach grades K-12, and specialized in teaching history and psychology.

While teaching at Stafford High School in the 1970s, she was the first female coach of a state championship chess team. Tess traveled widely, including trips to her family's homeland in Treglia Italy, Bruges Belgium, Oxford England, Taipei Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Recently she had been working with the chess club at American International College. The Bailey family helped celebrate the 200th and 250th anniversary of the founding of Monson.

Friends may call at the Lombard Funeral Home, 3 Bridge St. in Monson MA for a memorial service on Wednesday, March 28th at 11:30 a.m. Remembrances may be made to The Tulgey Wood, c/o Alan Butchman, P.O. Box 182, Vineyard Haven MA 02568, a summer camp on Nantucket for people with special needs.