Pauline Michaelson Was Caterer, Science Teacher

Pauline C. Michaelson died Friday, March 31, at her home in West Tisbury after a long illness. She was 82 years old.

She was the former wife of Louis Michaelson, who predeceased her.

Pauline was the only child of Meyer Cohan and Deborah Lebowitz and was born in Worcester on Nov. 23, 1923, the only child of Meyer Cohan and Deborah Lebowitz. She was a longtime resident of the Vineyard.

She was graduated from the former North High School. She received her degree in education from Goucher College in Baltimore, Md., and did her graduate work at Yale University.

She taught science classes at Auburn High School for more than 20 years. She also had an extraordinary cooking talent and operated her own catering business for 10 years.

Pauline was active in the Worcester community and served as past president of the Worcester chapter of the American Association of University Women and was a member of the Brandeis University Women's Committee; she also worked for the University of Massachusetts hospice. She volunteered her time reading books at the library to the blind and belonged to a sewing group through the Blessed Sacrament.

She had maintained a house on the Vineyard for the past 14 years and settled on the Island year-round in 1996, wintering in Florida part time.

On the Vineyard she volunteered at the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center and was on the board of the West Tisbury library.

Along with being a prolific reader, her other talents included quilt making, cooking, her dog and antique collecting anything from glass, coins or stamps.

She is survived by her three daughters, Ellen Michaelson of Portland, Ore., Joan Oshinsky of Washington, D.C., and Mimi Michaelson of Cambridge; and two grandchildren, Charlie and Michael Oshinsky both of Washington, D.C.

Her funeral service was held in the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center in Vineyard Haven on Sunday, April 2. Interment followed in the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Cemetery in Vineyard Haven.

Donations may be made in Pauline's memory to the West Tisbury Public Library, P.O. Box 190, West Tisbury, MA 02575.

Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs. Visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.