Obituary of Helen Elizabeth Hughes

BELFAST - Helen Elizabeth Hughes, Ph.D., 93, passed away on May 26, 2015. Born April 23rd, 1922, in Damariscotta at the parsonage, the last of ten children, to Reverend Thomas Bennett Hughes (1865-1957) and the Reverend Sara Barbara Mayhew Hughes (1876-1972). Helen was married to Richard Garland Purinton 1918-2004), and Richard Victor Anderson (b. 1928), and had three sons, two of whom predeceased her: Richard Jordan Purinton (1943-1975), David Hughes Purinton (1948-1949), and Jonathan Mayhew Purinton (b. 1946); four grandchildren: Justin Johnson Osterberg (b. 1973), Joshua Jordan (b. 1974), Jonah Macintosh Purinton (b.1980), Helen Garland Forsyth (b.1983); and four great-grandchildren: Noah Soren Osterberg (b. 2005), Benjamin Micah Osterberg (b.2007), Gwendolyn Soleil Forsyth (b. 2008), and Elodie Marigold Forsyth (b. 2014). She was educated by the public schools of Maine, Connecticut and Florida; secondary education, Northfield School, MA; she attended Butler University (1940-1942), received her B.A. and M.S. from the California State Universities; and Ph.D. at the University of Chicago (1970). She was a school teacher, a school psychologist, a university professor at Governor State University, and founding editor of the periodical "The Creative Woman" (1977-1992). The university made all twelve volumes of the Creative Woman available on line. She was active in university affairs, including the faculty union where she served as president for three years. She maintained an independent practice in neuropsychology using the Halstead Battery of neuropsychological tests, and served as an expert witness in court cases. Dr. Hughes was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Churches for sixty years, serving in leadership positions as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chair of the Women and Religion Committee of the Central Mid-west district of the U.U.A. She helped to form a church-affiliated group on women's spirituality that met every full moon from 1961 to the present time. She gave many public lectures including sermons at various UU Churches. She was active in social justice movements including the Civil Rights, Peace Movement, Women's Equality, and the Environment. She loved music, art, out-door activities such as sailing, biking, hiking and camping. She explored a wide range of social, political and economic issues. Helen is survived by one sister: Victoria Lena Reiss of Shady, New York, and son Jonathan M. Purinton of Warren, Maine, as well as four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Arrangements are under the care of Riposta Funeral Home and memories and condolences can be shared at www.Ripostafh.com. The Memorial Service will be held and officiated by the Reverend Deane Perkins, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast, Maine; time and date to be determined. Donations in her memory may be made to The Maine People's Alliance or the Belfast Transition Town Initiative.