Alice Mohler DeLana, beloved mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend died in Westwood on August 23 of natural causes. She was 88.

Born October 5, 1936 in Philadelphia to Orren and Helen Mohler, Alice graduated from Kingswood Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. She studied mathematics at Mount Holyoke College before transferring to the University of Michigan to earn a degree in English. Her love of teaching was sparked by her father, a lifelong academic and longtime chair of the University of Michigan Department of Astronomy.

For nearly four decades, she taught English, computer science and art history at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Conn. Thousands of young women passed through her classrooms, many crediting her with inspiring them to pursue professional lives in the arts, education and publishing.

After retiring, she served as a docent at Harvard’s Fogg Museum and led student and alumni groups from Mount Holyoke and Harvard on tours through the Louvre, the Uffizi, the National Gallery and more. She was a teacher, traveler and companion whose knowledge and warmth drew admiration everywhere she went.

She also gave generously to Hartford’s cultural life, serving on the boards of the Hill-Stead Museum, the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Mortensen Library and Hartford Stage Company. As the first female member of Hartford’s University Club, she spoke with spark and authority on art and literature, her talks often published by local historical societies.

Her marriage to William G. DeLana, a partner at Day, Berry & Howard, was marked by devotion to intellect and community. His death in 1987 left her, as she described it, “unable to breathe for several years.” She carried on with grace, pouring herself into her students, volunteer work and grandchildren.

Alice is survived by her sister Jane Barry, her daughter Elizabeth (Libby), her son Charley and daughter-in-law Patty, and five grandchildren — William, Charlotte, Orren, George, and Harry — who knew her simply as Grandhoney.

A celebration of her life will take place at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Conn. on Oct. 5 at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Alice M. and William G. DeLana Hartford Area Day Student Scholarship, NPR, your local arts organization or local library to ensure access to all books.