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Channel 5's Romper Room teacher Miss Jean has passed away

Fenway1912

Fenway1912

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Tribute for Jean "Miss Jean" Durkee | Fuller Funeral Home-Cremation Service

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Jean (Dallaire) Durkee, beloved by all her good DoBees; Miss Jean of TV's Romper Room in Boston, MA from 1958 to 1972, died peacefully in Naples, FL on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at the age of 90. Jean was the daughter of Laurence and Tillie (Moriarty) Dallaire, born in Lynn, MA, grew up in Salem, MA and graduated from St. James High School. A "54 graduate of Salem State Teachers College (Now Salem State University) in Massachusetts, Jean began her career at Lynnfield Jr. High School teaching Language Arts and Social Studies and as Director of Girls' physical education. Her love of teaching continued as a teacher for physically challenged children in grades 1-6 in Lynn, MA.

When WHDH TV was looking for a teacher for their upcoming children's program Romper Room, Jean was one of five hundred applicants interviewed over a one week period. Selected one of six finalists, she was asked to return for an on camera audition. To her amazement, she became Miss Jean of Romper Room, which aired live at 9:00 a.m. Mondays thru Friday. Jean was nervous but excited about the opportunity to reach into homes, hearts and minds of preschool and kindergarten aged children in New England. Oh how the kids loved it when Miss Jean saw them in her "Magic Mirror!" And oh how Jean once again loved her new teaching assignment and continued for 14 happy and rewarding years!

Jean worked closely with many worthy causes. Among them: Red Cross Water Safety, U.S. Marines Toys for Tots, MA Health Depart., American Dental Assn., Boston Fire Prevention Dept. and the Jimmy Fund Children's Hospital. One of Jean's most rewarding special events was taking several of the children's hospital cancer patients for a Romper Room plane ride around Boston, courtesy of American Airlines. Both Jean and Romper Room received many educational and professional excellence achievement awards throughout Romper Room's unequaled number one rating in its time slot for fourteen years.
 
Louise Lark was the Romper Room hostess I remember, though my older siblings always said they liked Miss Jean better. I understand that Jean Harrington left Romper Room in part because the studios for the new Channel 5 (WCVB) were further for her to commute to.
 
I think a lot of other TV markets had different hosts for Romper Room. Sort of a syndicated show but each one had a different "teacher". I didn't really watch it, I was more of a Capt. Kangaroo guy! I just remember the silly mirror part: "I see Billy and Sally and Roger too. Hi David, George, Vladmir and..........Ralphie! Put that peanut butter away and get away from the dog!" Well.....maybe not that last part.......
 
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