Catherine Anne Dickinson

Middletown, RI - Catherine Dickinson, 60, of 128 Center Avenue, Middletown, died Monday, November 12, 2007 at Newport Hospital, after a long illness. She was the wife of Philip Dickinson. Born in Bryn Mawr, PA, on February 2, 1947, she was the daughter of the late James and Madge Hibbits Kerrigan. She was known for her sharp wit, her great sense of humor, and her creativity. Before moving to Rhode Island in 1976, Cathy was successful in sales and marketing? skills she was able to put to good use in her work with the Girl Scouts. Since her childhood in Pennsylvania when she had the good fortune of going on a field trip to the Civil War battlefield at Gettysburg with Carl Sandburg, she was in love with the study of history. For more than two decades, Cathy was deeply involved in Girl Scouts? as troop leader, trainer, organizer, and camp director at Rocky Farm. She was admired in Girl Scouting throughout the state for her energy, knowledge, and leadership in training adult leaders as well as her enthusiasm for camping. As a master trainer, she created training programs, many of which are still in use. She was also active regionally in the New England Training Conferences. In 1987 an 1992, she was presented with the Honor Pin and the Appreciation Pin in recognition of her service to Girl Scouting. Besides her husband, she is survived by her children, Megan Sylvester of Cooperstown, NY and Sean Dickinson of North Easton, MA, her grandchildren, Courtney Sylvester and Crystal Sylvester of Middletown, RI, her sisters Maurya Connors of Clatskanie, OR and Rebekah Wells of Oxnard, CA. She was the sister of late Cynthia Hawkes and Andrew Kerrigan. A private service was held on November 23, 2007. In her memory, donations may be made to the Newport Hospital Foundation, for Nursing Education, 11 Friendship Street, Newport, RI 02840.