Longtime Phys-ed Teacher in Ridgefield, Pam Harrington, 77, has Died

Pamela Wilcox Harrington (Pam), age 77, of Vero Beach, Florida and Indian Beach, Delaware, died peacefully on Monday, December 16, 2024. She was the loving wife of Joseph S. Harrington Jr. (Jay). Pam was born on March 12, 1947, in Middletown, CT to the late Stedman S. Wilcox and June A. Wilcox.

Pam grew up in Clinton, CT where she was a graduate of The Morgan School. She was a two-sport varsity athlete and later inducted as a member of the Morgan Legends Group and the Morgan Sports Hall of Fame. She loved dancing ballet through high school, modern dance in college, and tap as an adult. Pam received her Bachelor of Arts from MacMurray College, where she was also a four-year varsity athlete and her Master's in Education from Western Connecticut State University. 

Pam spent 38 years teaching physical education in Ridgefield, CT at Farmingville Elementary School, East Ridge Middle School, and Branchville Elementary School. She loved working with children and was known for her creative games and activities. Pam was ahead of her time and introduced cooperative games in her classes and incorporated classroom lessons with activities in gym class. She loved to think big and always organized and ran her signature, annual, school-wide field day at the end of each school year. For her final year at Branchville, the entire school put together a surprise flash mob dance in the middle of that field day to celebrate her retirement. The commemorative neon yellow t-shirts fittingly marked the day with “Mrs. Harrington Rocks” on the back.

In addition to her love of teaching, Pam was passionate about her various creative outlets. She excelled at basket making and rug hooking which kept her hands busy and happy. She also delighted in making her own chocolates, hot fudge sauce, beach plum jelly, and Bailey’s Irish cream for the holidays. Her family eagerly awaited her homemade applesauce each fall with just the right amount of sugar and spice.

Pam was the beloved mother of Elizabeth (David) Etzbach, adored grandmother of Parker, Reid, and Austin, loving sister of Wende-Leigh (William) Ayers and Sharrie (James) Finn and sister-in-law Joanne (Porter) Speakman, fond cousin, aunt, great-aunt, and friend to many.

There will be a Celebration of Life Service held on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. at Jesse Lee Memorial United Methodist Church, 207 Main Street. Ridgefield, CT. Interment will take place privately. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001 https://alzfdn.org/donate/. 

Kane Funeral Home, Ridgefield is in care of arrangements.

K
Submitted by Kane Funeral Home

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