Obituary of Madeline Eileen Dalton
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On April 16, Madeline Eileen Dalton, educator and Olympic fencing athlete died peacefully at Franciscan Oaks Health Center in Denville. She was 93.
Miss Dalton, daughter of the late Madeline Tagg Dalton and Leo A. Dalton was a lifelong resident of Manhattan and maintained a summer home in Rainbow Lakes since 1948. After her retirement in 1979, she made Rainbow Lakes her permanent home and for the past five years resided at Franciscan Oaks. She was an active member of St. Catherines Roman Catholic Church in Mt. Lakes, a member of the Parish Council and teacher in the School of Religion for many years.
Madeline Dalton began her education at the Ursuline Academy in New York and earned a Bachelors degree from Hunter College in 1935. She taught Mathematics in the public school system until she recognized the urgent need for teachers of special education. She earned graduate degrees in special education and educational administration, devoting her 40 year career to designing innovative programs most notably, early advocacy for combining academic development with occupational training.
Miss Dalton lectured extensively at U. S. universities and abroad at conferences from Italy to India. In the nineteen sixties, she was appointed Acting Director and later Executive Director of the Department of Special Education for the City of New York. At events marking her retirement, she claimed her greatest career satisfaction came from collaboration with her students parents and the advancement of the teachers she trained.
Miss Daltons championship fencing career began at Hunter, and she later joined the U.S. Fencing Association. In 1944, she became U.S. National Womens Champion and earned a place on the U.S. team scheduled for the 1944 London Olympics which were cancelled as the war continued.
Miss Dalton is survived by her nieces: Edith Dalton Marinucci, MD, Joan Dalton McDevitt, NY, and nephew Michael Dalton, WA; great nieces and nephews,
Catherine Santaniello NJ, Karen Lee Dalton, MN, Michael Crumrine, NJ, Kevin P. Crumrine, NJ and 16 great, great nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her sister Catherine Dalton and her brothers Colonel Harry Dalton (USAF Ret.), Leo A. Dalton and nephew, Leo Dalton.
Visiting will be at St. Catherines Church, Mt. Lakes, NJ on Saturday, April 21 from 8:45 to 9:15 A.M followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 A.M. Interment is at Gate of
Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY. Arrangements by Norman Dean Funeral Home. ndean57@verizon.net Memorial gifts may be made to The Hunter College Foundation, Inc. 695 Park Ave. NY, NY 10021 for the Madeline E. Dalton Special Education Scholarship for Hunter College graduate students.
