- Date Of Birth: March 6, 1926
- Date Of Death: January 2, 2019
- State: Indiana
Claire Distelhorst Gregory, 93, of Bloomington died January 2, 2019 at home with her family by her side.
Born, March 6, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, she was the daughter of the late Robert Henry and Genevieve (McCall) Distelhorst.
She received a baccalaureate degree in Speech and Theatre from Indiana University in 1947 and her master’s degree in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University in 1954. She completed post-graduate work for the doctoral in Mass Communications, but did not write a dissertation.
Claire taught English in public schools in Indiana and Illinois from 1947-1952. When she returned to Bloomington for post-graduate work, she volunteered in the production of television programs at the newly formed television station at Indiana University as host and as writer, director, editor and photographer. In 1956, she joined the faculty at the Radio and Television Department at Indiana University as Lecturer and Director of Women’s, Children’s and Social Service Programs.
In 1960, she went on leave of absence to work on her doctoral degree, but devoted the next 10 years to raising a family. In 1971, she returned to the workforce part time as the first Executive Director of the Community Service Council. While there, she helped initiate the planning and coordination of such services as Home Health and Homemaker Services. With her leadership, the cataloging of community services according to the United Way’s IRIS system began. She wrote the first proposal for the services to be provided to Owen and Monroe County Senior Citizen’s through the Area Agency on Aging, and when the proposal was funded, she guided the formation of the agency in concert with the Community Service Council Board of Directors.
In 1975, she returned to Indiana University as Assistant Supervisor for Program Development in the Instructional Television of the Radio and Television Center. She wrote proposals for the funding of television programs and series. She also produced, wrote, directed and edited programs that were seen internationally, nationally and regionally.
Claire was given the title of Director of Special Projects in 1990 and retired from Radio and Television in 1992.
She had been an active member of the YMCA, Theta Sigma Phi, Ernie Pyle Society and a retired member of Psi Iota XI, Delta Gamma Sorority, Blue Ridge Association and the Mostly Moliere Troup.
She served as a volunteer lay reader for A Moment of Science, heard National Public Radio. Claire is survived by her daughter, Martha Gregory Hylton (Chad), her son, Charles Hodge Gregory (Marilyn), her brother, Robert Henry Distelhorst and four granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her sister, Patricia Distelhorst Turner.
