Obituary for Deborah Booker (Fite)
Deborah Booker, beloved wife of Robert and mother of Amelia, resided for the past five years with her family in Medfield, Massachusetts. Before that, she lived with Robert and Amelia in Fort Collins, St. Louis, Newport, and Annapolis. She grew up with three sisters Cate, Lucinda, and Lisa, and their parents Amy and Jack Fite in Flourtown, near Philadelphia. She was a cheerleader and field hockey player in high school.
In her first career, Deborah marketed high-end office furniture and movable wall systems for Sunar-Houserman. She managed a wide territory from a showroom in Georgetown. Later, she became regional marketing manager for Cadwallader and Sangiorgio Associates, a new division of a European office furnishings manufacturer. While living in Annapolis, she was a member of the Severn Sailing Association and crewed aboard sailboats racing on Chesapeake Bay. Her sister Lisa lived with her there for a while.
37 years ago, Nunna and Clay introduced Deborah to Robert. They had a naval wedding in Annapolis the following year. Robert taught Deborah to ski, and they learned to play golf together. Four years later, they adopted Amelia as an infant.
Deborah nurtured and protected Amelia. Her loving support and guidance helped Amelia manage cognitive and emotional disabilities. She advocated for opportunities, services, and professional care to enhance Amelia’s development, health, and welfare. She taught Amelia to cook. She encouraged Amelia’s music interests and talents, including singing, playing, and composing, and she facilitated Amelia’s enrollment at Berkshire Hills Music Academy. Amelia learned to ski, snowboard, and drive. For Amelia, Deborah was her best friend, remembering all that she and her mother felt, talked about, and did together.
Deborah earned BS and MBA degrees at University of Maryland. Afterwards, the family moved to Newport, and Deborah was hired by the College of Business at University of Rhode Island as Assistant Director of MBA Programs. She joined Newport Navy Choristers and Ida Lewis Yacht Club, and she helped sponsor international families at the Naval War College.
As Robert approached military retirement, Deborah accepted an offer from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis to be Assistant Dean, MBA Programs and Financial Aid. Later, she became Associate Dean, External Relations, encompassing marketing and communications. She led a creative team that handled events, publications, multimedia, branding, and other projects. She participated in strategic planning, coordinated the School’s National Council, managed corporate and foundation relationships, prepared speeches and presentations, and traveled with the Dean. The team members she mentored became life-long friends. Additionally, she was very involved with the Women’s Safe House in St. Louis and served as board president for three years of laudable accomplishments.
Deborah left Washington University in 2006, when she was offered a similar role with the College of Business at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, not far from her sister Lisa. Three years later, though, she entered early retirement to focus on successful treatment of cancer, which allowed her to live cancer free for nine years. She was a member of the choir and vestry at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Windsor as well as the Windsor Chamber Chorale. She played golf at Fort Collins Country Club and elsewhere and skied in Colorado and British Columbia.
The family moved to Massachusetts in 2017 to have better opportunities for Amelia, purchase a home for retirement, and be nearer her sister Lucinda as well as other family and friends. Deborah joined the choir at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Dover, The Dedham Choral Society, and the cast of We Did It for You. She worked for Dover/Sherborn High School for more than a year, helping students in need of academic assistance.
Upon discovering the aggressive return of cancer, Deborah began bravely coping with the side effects of radiation and chemical therapies. Through determination, attitude, and science, she outlived an initial prognosis by three years. She led a happy and active life until the effectiveness of the therapies began to wane last summer.
Wherever Deborah lived, she found community and made her mark. She set high goals for herself and achieved them. As a leader, she had a talent for building strong teams, accomplishing difficult tasks, and making a real difference. She had a profound effect upon many lives.
Throughout her life, Deborah was an active force, moving with the landscape. She became an avid golfer and skier. She loved visiting Steamboat Springs during both summer and winter. She walked her dog Amigo with her friend Joy around Linden Lake near Fort Collins and with her friend Kirie around Medfield.
Deborah was passionate about cooking and had culinary skills to match. Within her many cookbooks and recipes, she added notes of her own to those of others, passing on generational knowledge. Her kitchen was where she relaxed, established traditions, created gourmet dishes and meals, hosted family and friends, and built enduring relationships. Deborah enjoyed wine, created mosaic art for her home, yard, and church, and collected crafted snowmen to display on the mantel during winter.
Deborah traveled to Ecuador as a high school exchange student. During her marketing and academic careers, she traveled in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. She also traveled widely in North America and Europe with Amelia and Robert for recreation, culture, sightseeing, and visits with family and friends. She honeymooned with Robert in Italy. After befriending a Dutch exchange student, she and Robert visited Lisanne and explored The Netherlands together. She met Robert’s relatives in England, often hosted by Robert’s cousin, Gavin. She visited Paris by Eurostar from London with Robert and young Amelia. Years later, they joined family and friends to celebrate the marriage of Deborah’s nephew Avi to Agathe at a chateau in France. Her family traveled around New England during the last years of her life. She loved the seaside, especially on Cape Cod and along the coast of Maine. She enjoyed the exceptionally colorful fall foliage during the final weeks of her life.
In addition to her husband and daughter, Deborah is survived by her sisters Lucinda and Lisa, nephews Avi and Leon, grandnephews Milo and Sacha, and many cousins. She also leaves her life-long friend Sarah as well as dear Shannon with Deborah’s “grandchildren” Wesley and Maddie. She will be missed by many whose lives she touched so impressively.
In her first career, Deborah marketed high-end office furniture and movable wall systems for Sunar-Houserman. She managed a wide territory from a showroom in Georgetown. Later, she became regional marketing manager for Cadwallader and Sangiorgio Associates, a new division of a European office furnishings manufacturer. While living in Annapolis, she was a member of the Severn Sailing Association and crewed aboard sailboats racing on Chesapeake Bay. Her sister Lisa lived with her there for a while.
37 years ago, Nunna and Clay introduced Deborah to Robert. They had a naval wedding in Annapolis the following year. Robert taught Deborah to ski, and they learned to play golf together. Four years later, they adopted Amelia as an infant.
Deborah nurtured and protected Amelia. Her loving support and guidance helped Amelia manage cognitive and emotional disabilities. She advocated for opportunities, services, and professional care to enhance Amelia’s development, health, and welfare. She taught Amelia to cook. She encouraged Amelia’s music interests and talents, including singing, playing, and composing, and she facilitated Amelia’s enrollment at Berkshire Hills Music Academy. Amelia learned to ski, snowboard, and drive. For Amelia, Deborah was her best friend, remembering all that she and her mother felt, talked about, and did together.
Deborah earned BS and MBA degrees at University of Maryland. Afterwards, the family moved to Newport, and Deborah was hired by the College of Business at University of Rhode Island as Assistant Director of MBA Programs. She joined Newport Navy Choristers and Ida Lewis Yacht Club, and she helped sponsor international families at the Naval War College.
As Robert approached military retirement, Deborah accepted an offer from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis to be Assistant Dean, MBA Programs and Financial Aid. Later, she became Associate Dean, External Relations, encompassing marketing and communications. She led a creative team that handled events, publications, multimedia, branding, and other projects. She participated in strategic planning, coordinated the School’s National Council, managed corporate and foundation relationships, prepared speeches and presentations, and traveled with the Dean. The team members she mentored became life-long friends. Additionally, she was very involved with the Women’s Safe House in St. Louis and served as board president for three years of laudable accomplishments.
Deborah left Washington University in 2006, when she was offered a similar role with the College of Business at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, not far from her sister Lisa. Three years later, though, she entered early retirement to focus on successful treatment of cancer, which allowed her to live cancer free for nine years. She was a member of the choir and vestry at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Windsor as well as the Windsor Chamber Chorale. She played golf at Fort Collins Country Club and elsewhere and skied in Colorado and British Columbia.
The family moved to Massachusetts in 2017 to have better opportunities for Amelia, purchase a home for retirement, and be nearer her sister Lucinda as well as other family and friends. Deborah joined the choir at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Dover, The Dedham Choral Society, and the cast of We Did It for You. She worked for Dover/Sherborn High School for more than a year, helping students in need of academic assistance.
Upon discovering the aggressive return of cancer, Deborah began bravely coping with the side effects of radiation and chemical therapies. Through determination, attitude, and science, she outlived an initial prognosis by three years. She led a happy and active life until the effectiveness of the therapies began to wane last summer.
Wherever Deborah lived, she found community and made her mark. She set high goals for herself and achieved them. As a leader, she had a talent for building strong teams, accomplishing difficult tasks, and making a real difference. She had a profound effect upon many lives.
Throughout her life, Deborah was an active force, moving with the landscape. She became an avid golfer and skier. She loved visiting Steamboat Springs during both summer and winter. She walked her dog Amigo with her friend Joy around Linden Lake near Fort Collins and with her friend Kirie around Medfield.
Deborah was passionate about cooking and had culinary skills to match. Within her many cookbooks and recipes, she added notes of her own to those of others, passing on generational knowledge. Her kitchen was where she relaxed, established traditions, created gourmet dishes and meals, hosted family and friends, and built enduring relationships. Deborah enjoyed wine, created mosaic art for her home, yard, and church, and collected crafted snowmen to display on the mantel during winter.
Deborah traveled to Ecuador as a high school exchange student. During her marketing and academic careers, she traveled in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. She also traveled widely in North America and Europe with Amelia and Robert for recreation, culture, sightseeing, and visits with family and friends. She honeymooned with Robert in Italy. After befriending a Dutch exchange student, she and Robert visited Lisanne and explored The Netherlands together. She met Robert’s relatives in England, often hosted by Robert’s cousin, Gavin. She visited Paris by Eurostar from London with Robert and young Amelia. Years later, they joined family and friends to celebrate the marriage of Deborah’s nephew Avi to Agathe at a chateau in France. Her family traveled around New England during the last years of her life. She loved the seaside, especially on Cape Cod and along the coast of Maine. She enjoyed the exceptionally colorful fall foliage during the final weeks of her life.
In addition to her husband and daughter, Deborah is survived by her sisters Lucinda and Lisa, nephews Avi and Leon, grandnephews Milo and Sacha, and many cousins. She also leaves her life-long friend Sarah as well as dear Shannon with Deborah’s “grandchildren” Wesley and Maddie. She will be missed by many whose lives she touched so impressively.