Obituary of Raechelle Freeman

Raechelle Freeman—remembered locally as Shelley Dinan, a career speech pathologist and special education teacher for New Canaan Public Schools—died peacefully Sunday at Stamford Hospital, family by her side, following a courageous two-and-a-half year battle with myelofibrosis. She was 80.

Born Raechelle Sandra Ashbaugh on Nov. 15, 1943 in Neptune, N.J., she was the daughter of Ivan and Bernice Blum Ashbaugh. 

Energetic, smart, irreverent and fun, she grew up on the Jersey Shore in Belmar with her little sister, Karen, graduating from Manasquan High School.

Through her education and professional work, Shelley soon began migrating north toward New Canaan.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from Montclair State College and master’s from Columbia University, both in speech pathology. 

From 1966 to 1969, Shelley was responsible for delivery of speech services to children and adults in Bergen County, N.J. while on staff at the Mount Carmel Guild Diagnostic Center in Newark. During that time, she also lectured master’s degree candidates at Seton Hall University on diagnostic procedures in speech pathology and supervised practicum at the university clinic. 

In 1969, she was hired by the state of New York to develop a model program in speech and language services for developmentally disabled residents at six state facilities. 

Newly married to Tim Dinan, husband of 22 years, she came to New Canaan during the 1969-70 academic year to provide speech services for Center and East Schools. She also was instrumental in developing a pre-kindergarten Language-Speech Program, providing therapy to preschoolers until 1973, when increased enrollment prompted the Board of Education to create a position specifically for that program. She also designed and implemented the district’s English as a Second Language program, later run by a close friend, the late Ruth Magill.

She earned a certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and in 1982 took a second master’s degree, in learning disabilities, from Fairfield University. In addition to her district work, Shelley established a private practice in town, working with children requiring academic support and speech therapy. 

Her work with kids was a source of boundless joy. She loved her field and never tired of speech pathology. Following her 2005 retirement and relocation to the South, she briefly worked with stroke patients, contracting with nursing homes, but quickly returned to kids—at one point driving two hours each way between South Carolina and Georgia to provide speech services at an elementary school. 

She and Tim had three kids in the 1970s—Terry, Michael and Rachel, all born at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.

Shelley was a themed party-thrower with a wonderful sense of occasion, a swim parent and Cub Scout Pack 70 public service coordinator and den mom. She created magical Christmases for her young children, and schlepped them around strategically each Halloween—no New Canaan kids scored more candy as Trick-or-Treaters. She loved cooking, movies, music, mah-jongg, dogs, ballroom dancing, travel, bridge and social clubs. She loved licorice, Junior Mints and Sabrettes hot dogs from New York City street vendors. She drew Snoopy on greeting cards and gave loved ones two cards for birthdays, one funny and one sappy. She loved underdogs. She believed in equality and stood by her principles. She joined local chapters of the League of Women Voters and American Association of University Women wherever she moved, founding them if they weren’t there already.

She survived breast cancer twice. Shelley faced adversity with courage. After her second mastectomy, she opted for reconstructive surgery, telling friends she didn’t know whether to be Audrey Hepburn or Dolly Parton.

In 2003, Shelley married Ray Freeman, an easygoing and patient man, and the pair shared many adventures together, tandem-cycling across the southwest, dog sledding up north and getting tattoos (‘Dog Is Love’ with a bearded collie head). 

The family is grateful to Dr. Tammana Haque and her wonderful team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, including Julie, Shelley’s first patient concierge and Bernadette the nurse practitioner. We also are grateful to Victoria the nurse at Stamford Hospital and the team at Constellation hospice care for their gentle bedside manner. We thank Kathy Mitchell, her fellow NCPS retiree for her close friendship and support.

In addition to her husband Ray Freeman of Stamford, she is survived by sister Karen Britton (Doug) of Washington, N.C., children Terry Dinan (Andrea) of New Canaan, Michael Dinan (Marie) of Stamford and Rachel Moniz Benyamini (Kerem) of Weston, stepson Tony Freeman (Jaquelyn) of Arcadia, Fla., as well as grandchildren Gillian, Baylor, Ava, Cooper, Mats, Olivia, Mason, Madyson and Dillon, cousins, nieces and nephews.

She also is survived by two dogs, RayBan and Duncan. Shelley was predeceased by two cats—Joe and Claudia—and nine dogs: Soccer, Stanley, Fred, Max, Ralph, Murray, Maurice, Henry and Arnold.

Visitation hours with family will be held 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1 at Cognetta Funeral Home, 104 Myrtle Ave. in Stamford (Hoyt is under renovation).