Viriginia Rae Alexa

Virginia Del Rae (Levley) Alexa, ("Ginny"), died Sunday morning, February 21, 2010 at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH.Born on July 25, 1934 in Pontiac Michigan, Ginny was the daughter of Lois Naomi (Roberts) Levley and Alfred Stanton Levley. Ginny attended Elementary and High Schools in Pontiac, MI and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Education from the Michigan State Normal College in Ypsilanti, Michigan in 1956. She taught Elementary School at the Utica Community School in Utica, Michigan. In 1958 she married and moved to Montvale, NJ with her husband George Frank Alexa. For several years she taught within the Maplewood, Norwood and Montvale School Systems. Ginny was a devoted educator who instilled great faith in her student's ability to learn. Of special note is the impact she made upon author and innovator in the positive educating of children with developmental disabilities, Robert J. Sternberg. Developer of "Dr. Sternberg's Triarchic Theory of (Successful) Intelligence", Dr. Sternberg attributes his interest in human intelligence to his fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Alexa, who saw that he had potential and challenged him to do better. After many years of poor performance on IQ tests and low teacher's expectations, Ginny Alexa helped Dr. Sternberg to become a high achieving student and subsequently he graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University. In a gesture of gratitude, Dr. Sternberg dedicated his book, Successful Intelligence (1996) to Mrs. Alexa Ginny had three children: son Frank Stanton Alexa and daughters Lois Alexa Hurley and Christina Alexa Fortier. In 1978 Ginny and George Alexa moved to Meredith, NH with their three children, where Ginny became deeply active in her church and her local community. She resumed her teaching career in 1985 as a teacher's aid in the Lang Street School and worked for 10 years as a Kindergarten teacher in the Interlakes School District. Ginny's deepest love was her family, her community and her faith in God. She was a shining light to all she touched and became labeled as the "Resident Hugger" at the Center Harbor Congregational Church. She was a living example of unconditional love; as such she broke barriers between people and made us at ease through the simple art of hugging. Ginny was a member of the church choir and a deacon of the church. She enjoyed many years of active service in Community Caregivers and was a strong advocate for those in need. After retirement Ginny enjoyed part time employment at her best friend's flower shop in Moultonboro, NH, Floral Creations by Mardee. Ginny Alexa was predeceased by her husband George Alexa in 1995 and is survived by her three children, Frank Alexa, Lois Hurley and Christina Fortier, and her four grandchildren, Evan James Alexa and Abby Marie Alexa, Samuel James Hurley and Joseph Fortier. She will be deeply and dearly missed. Memorials:Gifts offered in the memory of Virginia Alexa can be made to the Center Harbor Congregational Church.Service:A Memorial Service will be held at the Center Harbor Congregational Church in Center Harbor, NH on Friday, February 26, 2010 at 11:00 am. The service will be followed by a luncheon gathering at the church.

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Viriginia Rae Alexa

July 25, 1934 - February 21, 2010