Carolyn Menin Hoppe, preceded in death by her husband, Thad Anthony
Hoppe, passed away on February 16th, 2021. She is survived by her
children Thad A. Hoppe Jr. (Lisa Formica), and Lynne M. Johnson
(Christopher) as well as her beloved grandchildren, Austen, Connor, Cole,
Abby, Jackie and Sydney. She is also survived by her loving brother, Henry
Menin (Fredelle),and her cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and
uncles.
Daughter of the late Dr. William Menin and Margaret Greis Menin, Carolyn
grew up in Philadelphia, and attended Olney High School, graduating in
1952. Her love of travel and all things French blossomed early in her life
leading her to study language at Dickinson College and the University of
Paris. At Dickinson, Carolyn was a member of, and served a year as
president, of Pi Beta Phi sorority. She was elected to the prestigious Phi
Beta Kappa Honor Society and named a Woodrow Wilson Scholar in
romance languages. Carolyn went on to attain masters degrees at both the
Université Catholique d'Angers in Angers,France and subsequently at
Temple University in Philadelphia.
Excelling educationally was not all Carolyn managed to do during her
college years. She met and fell in love with her husband, Thad, whom she
wed in March of 1956. Together they enjoyed a life of family, friends and
travel. Carolyn taught French & Spanish at Springfield H.S. in Montgomery
County and then spent 25 years at Springside School (SSCHA) as an
upper school French teacher, of which some time was spent as Head of
the Language Department. Carolyn founded the school's cultural
exchange program at Springside and out of her intrigue and research in
France during WW11, developed an advanced placement course on the
French perspective during that time.
Carolyn cherished family, especially her grandchildren. She enjoyed
special relationships with each one. Her other interests included anything
French, her friends, entertaining, theatre, movies, bridge and mah jongg,.
Carolyn was also an avid reader and writer, even going so far as to pen a
treatise on the use of prepositions in the French language, as well as an
unpublished accounting, derived from her letters home, of her travel to
France and Europe in 1954-1955.
Although Carolyn's last few years were difficult for her, she was blessed to
have had a wonderful life. It is Carolyn's wish that in lieu of flowers,
contributions be made to Dickinson College's Study Abroad program at
P.O. box 1773, Carlisle, PA 17013.