Mary Virginia (Jinny) Cattell Dunmore, 83, died Feb. 20 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.  

Mrs. Dunmore grew up in Newton, summering in Duxbury throughout her childhood.  She graduated from Smith College, then married Bill Dunmore and moved to Duxbury to raise their family.

She was a preschool teacher and eventually became the director at Berrybrook School for over 22 years.  She loved helping build confidence in young children and developed a program at Berrybrook integrating nature study and music.

Mrs. Dunmore was involved with Duxbury Conservation Commission, working with Dr. Lansing Bennett to purchase numerous tracts of land in town for open space.  She and a group of her friends created a summer science program in the early 60’s for elementary aged children.  She was also a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader.  She later became a member of the Duxbury Historical Society, was an avid square dancer, sailor, gardener and a talented pianist.  She loved the beach, the outdoors and music.  

Mrs. Dunmore wrote and published the book, “The Cutting Edge”, about her famous surgeon father, Dr. Richard B. Cattell.  She also wrote a book about the first 25 years of Berrybrook School.

She leaves her husband of 60 years Arthur C. (Bill) Dunmore of Duxbury; her children Nancy and husband Don Reed of Duxbury, Douglas Dunmore and his wife Karol of Plymouth, and the late Kenneth Dunmore and his wife Margo of Barrington, Ill.; her brothers Dr. Richard and his wife Judy Cattell of Boulder, Colo. and John and his wife Caroline Cattell of Kingston; her sister Jean and her husband John Rhinelander of Gloucester; her grandchildren, Jesse Reed and Emily Reed of Los Angeles, Cal., Jennifer Dunmore Gourley and her husband Bob of Cleveland, Ohio, Crystal Dunmore of Plymouth,  Andrew and Kelly Dunmore of Chicago, Ill. Caroline Dunmore of Chicago, Ill. and Brooke Dunmore or New York City.

A memorial service will be held in the spring.  In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association, 311 Arsenal St. Watertown, MA 02472 or at alz.org/manh/in_my_community_donate.asp.