Spalding, Theresa Agnes ''Reecy''

Reecy was born on January 14, 1927 in Norwalk, Connecticut, 
the daughter of Charles and Theresa Gallagher, and died on 
August 25, 2010, after a 20-year battle with Alzheimer's 
disease. She was 83.

Valedictorian of her high school class in Connecticut (1944), she 
graduated from the University of Connecticut (Storrs) in 1948, 
majoring in chemistry. Reecy was the first woman research 
chemist ever hired at Remington-Rand Corporation. When 
General MacArthur and visiting dignitaries were touring the 
facility, she halted their tour by being asleep at her Bunsen 
burner! As they watched in anticipation, her head bobbed lower 
and lower until her nose got burned by the flame. Reecy woke to 
laughter and applause, and flashed her big engaging smile, for 
which she was known.

In 1951 she married Leland F. Spalding, M.D. and in 1958 they 
moved to Sacramento.

Reecy was interested in politics and social change. She was 
active in the League of Women Voters and the American 
Association of University Women (AAUW), where she served as 
both regional and state president. Researching the economic 
impact of proposed bills, she presented her findings to the 
California Legislature, where she received numerous accolades 
for her accomplishments.

First and foremost, however, Reecy was defined by her rare and 
luminous faith in God. A devout Catholic, she was an active and 
long-time member of St. John the Evangelist parish in 
Carmichael.

Born a strong, kind, gentle and humble soul, she will be missed 
by her loving family: her husband of 59 years, Leland; three 
sisters: Mary Chartier of Vernon, CT; Eileen Fritz of Tolland, CT; 
and Frances Smith of Abilene, TX; five children: Joanne 
(Leonard); Richard (Robyn); Helen; Susan; David (Angela) and 
eight grandchildren: Sean, Sutton, Ryane and Rhyse Spalding; 
David Michael Bolce; Nathanael Ramirez; Nicholas and Joshua 
Spalding.

Funeral services will be private. She will be laid to rest in the 
family plot in Willimantic, CT. Remembrances can be made to 
the Alzheimer's Society of Sacramento. 

Published in The Sacramento Bee on September 12, 2010