The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Ini High Prior

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Stephentown – Mrs. Ini High Prior died February 25, 2011, at Providence Care Center in Lenox, MA. She was 90 years old. Since her retirement she had resided in Stephentown, NY, at Salisbury Estates, Pittsfield, MA, and most recently at Sugar Hill, Dalton, MA.
She was born in Delft, the Netherlands, on February 14, 1921. Her parents, the late Jurjen Sjoerd and Hendrika Marie Muusers Hooghiemstra, moved with her to the United States in 1924, at that time changing the family name to High.
She graduated from Moore Institute of Art (now Moore College of Art), in Philadelphia, PA, in 1943. After further studies in America and in Holland and some work for the Voice of America and other radio broadcasters, she had a career as an art teacher in public high schools. From 1958 to 1974 she taught at Locust Valley High School in Locust Valley, NY, where she served as Chair of the Art Department. Her husband, the late Francis Logan Prior, was a teacher of Latin and French at Locust Valley. For some years the Priors maintained a summer house on île d’Orléans, Quebec. Later they spent summers in Stephentown, and Mrs. Prior lived there year round following the death of her husband in 1975.
In retirement, Mrs. Prior pursued her interests in painting, drawing and other fine and applied arts. She was an active member of the Stephentown Historical Society and the Stephentown Memorial Library. The companion of her later years, Jacob Bakker, whom she met while living in Stephentown, died in 2005.
A popular teacher and an admired artist, Mrs. Prior endeared herself to a wide circle of friends who valued her zest, good humor, elegant tastes and habitual kindness. She is survived by relatives in the Netherlands, by her lifelong friend Mrs. Elizabeth A. Shaw of South Hadley, MA, and by numerous students, who years after she retired wrote to her gratefully of the effect of her teaching.
Dwyer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. At her request there are no calling hours or services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to a charity of the donor’s choice in care of the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North St. Pittsfield, MA, 01201.