Eloise M. Soderland

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with great sorrow the death of retiree Eloise M. Soderland, on July 10 in her home at Brooksby Village in Peabody, Mass. She was 92.

Eloise began her career at WHOI in 1953 as a technical secretary in the Physical Oceanography Department. She went on to become a research assistant in 1963, then an executive assistant in 1970. In 1960, she became one of the first women to go to sea on an extended voyage with WHOI. She went on five voyages in her career before retiring in August 1983.

Eloise enjoyed golf, and was a member of the Otis Ladies Tuesday Morning Golf League. She was also actively involved with St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Falmouth.

She leaves her son, Dr. Carl A. Soderland and his wife, Diane Soderland, of Ipswich, Mass; four grandchildren, Christopher Bolka of New Orleans, LA, Stefan Bolka of San Jose, CA, Dr. Peter A. Soderland of Winchester, Mass, and Callie O’Connor of Maynard, Mass; and six great-grandchildren.

Her husband, Albert Soderland, died in September 2010. She was also predeceased by her daughter, Carol Ann Bolka.

A private interment was held on Tuesday, July 15, at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, PO Box 203, Falmouth, MA 02541.

Information for this obituary was taken from the Falmouth Enterprise.