Irene Duprey-Gutierrez of New Bedford, Massachusetts, died peacefully at her senior living home on July 28, 2026, at the age of 84. She is survived by her only child, Cathy; cousins in many states; and many loving friends. The community mourns the passing of this wonderful woman!
Born October 4, 1941, in New Bedford, Irene earned a BS in Education from Bridgewater State College, an MA from California State University, Northridge, and an Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She spent most of her professional life teaching English at New Bedford High School and later served as a career coordinator at Old Colony Vocational Technical High School. She also taught in education and writing programs at Newberry College, the Connecting Link, and UMass Dartmouth.
Irene was deeply involved in local civic and educational organizations. She was a member of the New Bedford YWCA, the American Association of University Women, the Bridgewater State Alumni Association, and numerous educational causes, serving as an officer in many of them. She was particularly active in the Massachusetts Teachers’ Association. In 1975, she was among 27 educators who went to jail for striking.
As recorded in the MTA History Project, a local newspaper quoted Irene, then vice president of the New Bedford Educators Association, recalling the experience: “The hardest part of going to jail was telling my eight-year-old daughter about it. I was afraid of the reaction she would get from the community, but it didn’t happen. Her teachers were wonderful. They told me before I left, ‘Don’t worry about Cathy, we’ll take care of her.’”
Irene loved animals of all kinds and devoted much of her vacation time to searching for wildlife throughout the United States and Canada. After retiring, she volunteered at the Buttonwood Park Zoo. She also loved musicals and volunteered for many years at the Zeiterion Theatre.
While her sister Diane Duprey was alive, the two shared a passion for genealogy and frequently traveled to Quebec to explore church records and family history.
Irene was perhaps best known for her extraordinary devotion to local history. For several decades, she volunteered at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, where she became especially well known for her in-character historical portrayals of Hetty Green, the famously successful investor who was once considered the richest woman in America.
Irene performed several popular Hetty Green programs each year, spending years researching Green’s life and continually expanding her repertoire. She was a fierce defender of Green, challenging the popular characterization of her as “The Witch of Wall Street” and arguing that her reputation as a miser was exaggerated and misunderstood.
Irene also wrote plays about local historical figures, many of which have been performed throughout the area. Her subjects included Lizzie Borden, Daddy Grace, Frederick Douglass, and Herman Melville. As an English teacher for most of her career, she possessed an impeccable knowledge of Moby-Dick and rarely missed the annual Moby-Dick Marathon reading at the Whaling Museum.
Irene’s final year brought a new chapter in her life. At her senior living home in Tiverton, Rhode Island, she quickly became an active and beloved member of the community. She made several close friends, participated in a book club, continued performing as Hetty Green, and co-founded the Ladies Billiards Club.
Throughout her life, Irene’s devotion to her daughter, Cathy, remained at the heart of everything she did.
At Irene’s request, there will be no public services. Those wishing to honor her memory are encouraged to make a donation to one of her favorite causes:
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
33 William St.
New Bedford, MA 02740
