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ETHEL 'BABE' CHAPMAN SEWALL EDUCATOR, YORK LIBRARY BEARS HER NAME

Ethel ''Babe'' Amelia Chapman Sewall, 79, of Sewall's Hill, Seabury Road, founder of the town's school libraries, died Friday at her home after a long illness. Mrs. Sewall taught in small schools in Maine and Connecticut before marrying George Norman Sewall in 1949. She then went to work as a teacher and later a principal in York. She retired as media coordinator of the York schools in 1978. In May 1994 she was presented with a certificate from the Maine Education Media Association for her vision of comprehensive media resources for York students. She has been called one of the pioneers of developing school libraries. Last year, the York High School library was dedicated in her name at a dinner at a York restaurant. One of her stepsons, George ''Elly'' Sewall, said he was one of those who helped to surprise her with the dedication. ''We told her we were just going out for dinner,'' he said. Mrs. Sewall became a little ''suspicious,'' he said, when she saw three or four friends walking into the restaurant at the same time. Still, she didn't guess the occasion until she saw the 150 people gathered inside in her honor. ''She broke down crying,'' he said.

George Sewall, her stepson, recalled the challenge of having his mother as his seventh grade math teacher. ''You didn't dare not to be prepared,'' he said. He also remembered taking care not to use her nickname ''Babe'' in school. He said he did not know how his stepmother first acquired the nickname, but ''we all called her that.'' But in school, he said, she naturally insisted on Mrs. Sewall and admonished a friend of his who let the name slip. ''You don't want a student calling after a teacher, 'Hey, Babe,' '' he said. ''But, she could see the humor.'' George Sewall said his mother ''devoted her life'' to his father, who died in 1993. Before and after her retirement, Mrs. Sewall helped her husband in his work as a lobsterman, going out with him into York Harbor to bait the traps and band the lobsters.''She did it to kind of keep him company and to help him,'' said her stepson.

The couple also became interested in square dancing, giving demonstrations at New England fairs. George Sewall said the two would go to a dance nearly every week as members of the Down East Western Square Dance Club of Kittery. George Sewall said his father made about 1,000 bow ties to go with their outfits, while his stepmother sewed many of her dresses.

Mrs. Sewall was born in Kennebunk, the daughter of Reed S. and Helen Calhoun Chapman. She graduated from Kennebunk High School in 1933. She received her teaching certificate from Gorham Normal School in 1936 and her master's degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1947. She did post-graduate study in library science in Portland and at Boston University. She was a member of United Methodist Church of York-Ogunquit, a lifetime member of the Maine Educational Media Association, a former member of the York Senior Citizen Advisory Board, a Senior Center Volunteer, a member of the Retired Teacher's Association and a member of the Board of Trustees for the York Public Library.

Survivors include two stepsons, Stanley D. of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and George Sewall of York; a sister, Rita Pitman of Kennebunk; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A funeral will be held at 11 a. m. Monday in United Methodist Church of York-Ogunquit, Route 1, York. Spring burial will be in the First Parish Cemetery. Arrangements are by Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home. Portland Press Herald 18 February 1995.