Helen Donohoe Armstrong
Helen (“Foo”) Donohoe Armstrong, a longtime switchboard operator at 91, died January 3, 2013, in Glens Falls, N.Y. She was 87.
Born February 8, 1925, in Saratoga Springs, Helen graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 1943.
Helen worked at the Country Gentleman Restaurant, and at the Putnam Street location of the New York Telephone Company. In 1970 she began working at 91 and retired in 1990. Fellow operator Kathryn McAllister worked with Helen during this time frame and remembered her as “extremely efficient. She took her job seriously and was good at it.” Kathryn also recalled Helen’s sharp sense of humor.
Helen enjoyed knitting, bowling, and gardening, especially her garden at Embury Apartments, her most recent Saratoga Springs address. When Helen lived on York Avenue, she and her husband John hosted backyard barbecues to help launch Saratoga ARC, now known as Saratoga Bridges.
Helen was predeceasd by her husband, three brothers, and a sister. Survivors include three sons, all Saratoga Springs residents: John (Roma), Paul, and Bruce; two daughters: Corinne (Anthony) Scirocco of Saratoga Springs and JoAnn (Richard) Rosebrook of Porter Corners; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Burial was at the Gerald B.H. Solomon-Saratoga National Cemetery.