Alice (Fay) Cloutier

Alice “Fay” Gallup Cloutier, 101, of Tinton Falls died Tuesday September 26, 2023. She was born October 30, 1921, in the rural town of Galesville, Wisconsin to Harry and Rose Ellen “Nellie” (Dick) Gallup. The family grew to include her three siblings, William “J”, Hilda Rae and Dorothy May. They enjoyed an idyllic childhood (to match their storybook names) being raised on a lake which provided a source of entertainment and community all year round. Her father, a veteran of WWI, instilled in Fay an appreciation of the larger World beyond her own small town. Although young, her values were shaped and influenced by the Great Depression. Life qualities shared by her husband’s experiences would be passed along to their children. After high school in 1939, Fay attended business college for two years. She worked as a comptometer operator with the US Department of Agriculture in a nearby town and while still age 20 moved to Chicago. She worked on Michigan Ave as a bookkeeper and also modeled hats for a retail millinery chain, all the while acclimating to the big city. As world events were developing, Fay became aware of the newly formed U.S. Marine Corps Womens Reserve. She enlisted in March 1943 and served active duty in Communications at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for the duration of WWII. Honorably discharged in September 1945, she returned to Wisconsin to work at Camp McCoy in medical processing, interviewing soldiers being separated from the army. She then completed three semesters of college at the University of Wisconsin before becoming employed as the private secretary to the head of Public Relations at General Mills, Inc. in Minneapolis. She was released temporarily to work in national politics before the 1948 presidential election. Eventually a mutual friend would introduce her to husband-to-be, Elmer “Al” Cloutier. In 1949 she relocated from Minnesota to New Hampshire to be married and to continue pursuing her degree in history and political science through the GI Bill. She would become the first female to graduate from St. Anselm College in 1953. Fay and Al welcomed their son Mark and daughters Mary Ellen and Anne in the first half of the 50’s. Some years were spent with their young family in Nebraska. During this time Fay was employed as an administrative assistant to Sol Garfield who with others established clinical psychology as a health profession and science. Fay was grateful for the range of experiences and learning opportunities in her employment history. After a few more years in Madison, Wisconsin the family moved to New York state in the early 60’s. Fay’s continued affinity for politics included memberships in the 1st NYS Women’s Political Caucus, the League of Women Voters, the NAACP and Amnesty International. Of particular significance to Fay, she represented upstate NY on the state board of Common Cause in NYC in the early 80’s. She ran for office and was elected Secretary of the board. She ran again, opposed, and won the election to serve a second term. Interspersed with raising a family and volunteering, Fay taught some years of business education at inner city schools in Rochester and worked as a realtor in and around Brockport, NY for several years at the end of her career. Her time as a lobbyist with Common Cause would be a high point. Fay was an avid reader to the end of her life, she enjoyed antiquing and traveling in the states and abroad with family and was passionate about researching her Gallup genealogy. She continued to embark on some great overseas travel after Al passed in 1981. Fay was the last remaining sibling but was so fortunate to have had her sister Hilda to reminisce with through so many of these recent years. Hilda Brovold passed this May and is survived by Jacqueline and her children. There is a large extended family surviving her sister Dorothy Toogood, including the families of Nancy, Karen, Susan and Bill. Her brother Bill Gallup is survived by Sherry, Candace and their families. There are also nieces and nephews from the extended Cloutier side of the family; John, Rosie, Carroll, Bernie, Allan and Chuck. Fay will also be remembered by a number of adult children she has adopted as close friends along the way. Whether seeing her as a surrogate parent or just an older, good humored, always current and engaged character. She was compassionate and accessible to others whether they were struggling or just wanting to have a good time and lively conversation. Most of all Fay loved her children. She is survived by Mark J. Cloutier, Washington DC, Mary Ellen Langlois, Eureka, California and Anne Cloutier, Red Bank, New Jersey. A memorial service will be held by the family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Elmer J. and Fay Gallup Cloutier scholarship at State University of New York Brockport or to any other cause or charity.

Alice (Fay) Cloutier

October 30, 1921 - September 26, 2023