Concord Funeral Home, 72 Belknap Street, Concord, MA (2025)

08/16/2025

IN OUR CARE

Donald Luther Southall, age 88, of Maynard, formerly of Carlisle, passed away on Friday, August 8, 2025, at Care One of Concord.

Born in Boston, on June 1, 1937, son to the late Luther Southall and Katherine Connolly. Raised and educated in Cambridge, Don attended Cambridge High and Latin and graduated in 1955. He went on to attend Harvard University and graduated with High Honors. He went on to serve his country by becoming a member of the United States Army. Don married his former wife Sybil on December 29, 1962, in Cambridge. From there the two settled in Carlisle where they raised a family.

Family was absolutely everything to Don. Everyone that knew him understood that was his priority. He greatly looked forward to every holiday or impromptu gathering, showed an immense amount of gratitude, and frankly was overjoyed. Definitely the only time he was on time for anything! Don’s respect for nature was impressive. His love of birdwatching, camping, hunting, fishing, and simply appreciating the great outdoors was unique. His trips to Africa and birdwatching with his son Greg were definitely his most memorable. In his later years merely sitting on his daughter’s deck, surrounded by his family was enough for him. Don was probably the only one not bothered by the weeds…He knew how to live in the moment and enjoy the simple things in life, always bringing a smile to those around him.

Don is survived by his son Gregory Southall of Maynard, Erica Cannarozzi and her husband Samuel of Boxborough, and Todd Southall of Danvers. He is also survived by his loving granddaughters, Jacqueline Murphy and her husband Christopher of Ayer, and Samantha Cannarozzi of Watertown.

Services and burial at Green Cemetery, Carlisle will be private

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08/04/2025

IN OUR CARE
Aurora Nerboso Spatola, age 98 of Concord, formerly of Belmont, Carlisle, and Boca Raton, FL, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 1, 2025. She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph Spatola, who died in 2016.

Aurora Nerboso was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, on July 14, 1927, the youngest child of Italian immigrants Nicola and Elena (Pennachhio) Nerboso.

Raised and educated in Somerville, Aurora graduated from Somerville High School with the class of 1945. She then studied drawing and ceramics at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, where she met her husband.

Aurora and Joe married on November 2, 1947, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Somerville. They settled in Belmont, where they built their first two houses and raised their daughter, Deborah. They later moved to Carlisle, where they built a third house, and then to Boca Raton, before moving back to Concord in 2012.

Aurora was a talented and respected artist. She studied painting with George Dergalis for many years at the deCordova Museum School, and at the age of 50 Aurora had a one-woman show at the Copley Society of Art, showcasing her acrylic paintings. Her style was Abstract Expressionism. Her many paintings from over the years are cherished by family and friends. An artist with diverse interests, Aurora also studied silversmithing at deCordova with Florence Hollingsworth, where she designed and hand wrought sterling silver pieces including bowls, bracelets, and pendants. She was also a skillful knitter, and she continued to paint and knit into her late nineties.

Often the life of the party, Aurora made friends everywhere she went. She was a kind, compassionate, and daring person who lived life to the fullest. She followed politics with passion and had a deep concern for humanity. Aurora worked to create balance, beauty, and functionality in each of her homes, where she continually entertained family and friends. Her appearance was a work of art: she was always elegant, stylish, and glamorous. In everything she did, she was led by her intuition and creativity.

She is survived by her loving daughter, Deborah Spatola O’Kelly, and her husband, Terence, of Carlisle, and her cherished granddaughters, Jacqueline O’Kelly of Mountain View, California, and Catherine O’Kelly of Worcester. Her siblings were the late Mary DeVellis Cox of Belmont, Salvatore Nerboso of Plymouth, and Regina DiNitto of Wi******er.

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Aurora during visiting hours on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap Street, Concord. Her funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at 1:00 pm at Duvall Chapel at Newbury Court, 80 Deaconess Rd., Concord. Burial in Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, will be private.

Donations in her memory may be made to:
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
P.O. Box 91891
Washington, D.C. 20090-1891
www.nationalmssociety.org

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08/04/2025

IN OUR CARE
Kathleen Linda Bolton, age 67, of Sudbury, formerly of Bedford, Massachusetts, passed away on Friday, July 25, 2025, at Emerson Hospital in Concord. She was the daughter of the late Arthur G. and Virginia Grace (Reeves) Bolton. She is also predeceased by her sisters, Jeane V. Brooks and Sharon M. Bolton-Bleakney, and brother Arthur L. "Larry" Bolton.

Her many loving caregivers survive her.

A private graveside service was held at Shawsheen Cemetery in Bedford, Massachusetts

Donations in her memory may be made to:
Minuteman Arc for Human Services
35 Forest Ridge Road
Concord, MA 01742
978-287-7900
www.minutemanarc.org

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07/24/2025

IN OUR CARE
Abigail Hall Leighton, age 90 of Sudbury, Massachusetts, formerly of Lewiston, Maine, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 20, 2025.

Abigail Clare Hall was born in Lewiston, Maine, on November 7, 1934, the daughter of the late Daniel Green Hall, Jr., and Edith C. (Walsh) Hall.

Abby graduated from Deering High School and Westbrook Junior College and attended St. Joseph’s Academy in Lewiston, Maine. In 1957, she married Peter Michael Leighton at West Point Academy, New York, and soon settled in Sudbury, Massachusetts, to raise their family.

While in Sudbury, Abby enjoyed spending time with her many friends and working at local shops in the area. She loved raising her children, teaching CCD at St. Anslem Catholic Church, and spending time at the ball fields.

Later, Abby moved to Florida, where she made new friends working at Hallmark. She relocated to Brewster on the Cape, and then to Woburn, where she spent her last years.

She loved animals, especially her cat, Fluffy, spending time with her grandkids, and the Boston Red Sox and Bruins. Abby was an avid reader and enjoyed everything from The Boston Globe to Agatha Christie.

She is survived by her daughter, Leslie, son Michael and his wife Pam, and son Paul and his wife Lucianne. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Peter, Zachary, Nicholas, and Christina, as well as her brother, Daniel Hall, and his wife, Vera. She was predeceased by her sister Carol Gipson.

Services will be private.

Donations in her memory may be made to:
Alzheimer's Association
320 Nevada Street, Suite 201
Newton, MA 02460
www.alz.org/manh

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07/24/2025

IN OUR CARE

Charles Thomas Swaim “Tom” passed away peacefully on July 7th. He was 84. Tom is survived by his wife, Betsy Swaim, his 3 sons Jeffrey Swaim, David Swaim (Michelle), Derek Swaim and his stepchildren Topher Grennan and Stephanie Pike (Tommy). He also leaves his sister Nancy Crone (David) of Berea, OH. Tom was the proud grandfather of 22 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Tom was predeceased by his parents, Donald and Edna Swaim and his first wife Jeanine “Jeanie”.

His 54-year legal career brought him huge satisfaction, especially being affiliated with Sherburne, Powers & Needham and leading the merger to Holland & Knight. Tom was known to many as a person to be trusted completely, respected beyond measure, wise not only in the law, but in life as well. He had a genuine interest in and cared for everyone he met, be they fellow attorney, friend, neighbor, handyman or stranger. Tom was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and uncle. Everyone has a favorite story or memory of how impactful his presence was in their lives.

Tom was born September 23, 1940, in Fremont, Ohio. He graduated from high school in Washington Court House, Ohio. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University 1962, where he was president of his senior class. Tom graduated from Northwestern School of Law in 1965. He served as Managing Partner at Sherburne, Powers & Needham prior to its merger with Holland & Knight in 1999 where he became Chairman of the Board for several years. Tom was instrumental in effecting the merger and in the post-merger of the two firms. He was an outstanding lawyer focusing on construction, real estate and education issues. Tom made regular appearances before government bodies. He had extensive international experience, particularly in Europe and The Middle East. He was Town’s Council for several years. Tom received several awards and recognition for his legal prowess. He retired in 2019 after practicing law for 54 years. In retirement Tom was active in Concord, MA, serving on the town Finance Committee, Zoning Board, and Concord Prison Outreach where he taught classes on Entrepreneurial Leadership to inmates at various prisons. He also served as a trustee for both Carlton Willard Village and Newbury Court. Tom was the clerk for Arts, Literature and Music Committee for the 250th celebration in Concord. Favored gathering (aside from family and friends) were “Romeos”, his book club and the Concord Players Theater Group. His all-time joys were spent with his wife Betsy of 13 years, his wife Jeanie of 45 years and his children and grandchildren. He was well known and loved by many residents of Concord.

A celebration of life will be held at the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street in Concord, MA on, Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 11 AM with a reception to follow.

Live stream of the service can be found online at https://www.youtube.com//streams

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Mighty Moose (mightymoose5k.org), Highrock Church (Highrockarlington.org) or other charity close to your heart.

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07/23/2025

IN OUR CARE
Donald More Stewart passed away peacefully on July 19, 2025 surrounded by family. He lived a long and full life of love and laughter, using curiosity and strength to meet the challenges he encountered. Born in New York City on June 11, 1942, Don was interested in almost everything, always seeking to learn, delighting in family, constantly wielding a wicked sense of humor, and always on the move.

He graduated from The Gunnery in Washington, Connecticut and was the third member of the Stewart family to graduate as an electrical engineer from MIT (1964). While attending Harvard Business School he met Elizabeth Allan Gunther. They married in 1966 and she joined him as he fulfilled his military obligation at the United States Navy Mine Defense Lab in Panama City, Florida. Their first child, Catherine More Stewart, was born in 1968 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.

Don and Elizabeth returned in 1968 to Boston where Don joined Teradyne, Inc. to work in the new field of computer-controlled test equipment. Douglas Russell Stewart was born in Boston in 1970, just before Don was transferred by Teradyne to cover sales in Washington, D.C. and northern Virginia. While there, Elizabeth eyed medical school and Don said “Go for it!” He remained supportive throughout her medical training and career and its long hours, taking care of the kids and making dinners, all the while adjusting his career to ensure her success. Their third child, Bruce Gardner Stewart, was born in Washington, D.C. in 1973.

Now a lively group of five, the family returned again to Boston in 1981 where Don pursued sales and marketing for Teradyne prior to starting a consulting business. In between business trips to Japan and other far-flung locales, Don led Weston Boy Scout Troop 157, using his boundless knowledge and enthusiasm to help guide both Douglas and Bruce to the rank of Eagle Scout. He frequently puttered in his downstairs workshop fixing household items that had broken, making and refinishing furniture, and doing fun projects with his kids. At one point, he used his welder to make a go-kart for Douglas and Bruce, repurposing a lawn mower to power it.

He worked tirelessly to obtain proper education for Kate, who has special needs. He was extensively involved with the Charles River ARC (now Charles River Center) for years, helping to advocate for those with mental disabilities and their families, ultimately serving for two years as President.

As a consultant, Don found that his “most important task was to figure out what you do, i.e., plan. It is not easy.” He spent the remainder of his working years successfully teaching companies to create roadmaps for success. He was active in a few professional organizations, most notably the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). ln retirement, he expanded his interest in renewable energy and sustainability, helping the town of Weston power its administrative buildings with solar panels placed on a slope in the town Transfer Station, and heating his new home with geothermal energy.

When he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, Don rose to the challenge with his characteristic energy, enrolling in clinical trials to help build scientific knowledge. As was his nature, he remained optimistic even as his Parkinson’s advanced, always choosing to look on the positive side of life.

Don is survived by his wife of 59 years Elizabeth Gunther Stewart and their three children, Kate, Douglas and Bruce; Douglas’ wife Diane Cordray and their children Madeleine (Moosie), Caroline, and Henry; and Bruce’s husband Brian Chuang and their children Brendan (Wei Wei) and Bryson (Yao Yao). Don is also survived by his brother Barry and Barry’s three daughters, four granddaughters, and one great-grandson; he is pre-deceased by Barry’s wife, Sandra. He was pre-deceased by his brother Robert and is survived by Robert’s wife, Irene Aja Stewart and their two children and four grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held at St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, 147 Concord Rd., Lincoln, MA on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 10:00 AM. A reception will follow.

For those who wish to attend services remotely, please visit the livestream link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR-UCjvfph6olyQB53n2sEA

Donations in his memory may be made to:
The American Parkinson Disease Association,
P.O. Box 61420
Staten Island NY 10306,
https://www.apdaparkinson.org/

or

The Charles River Center
59 E Militia Heights Dr.
Needham, MA 02492-1341,
https://www.charlesrivercenter.org/

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07/19/2025

IN OUR CARE
Garrett Thomas Haydon of Sudbury, Massachusetts died July 14, 2025 at age 29. A 2014 graduate of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, 2018 graduate of Springfield College and host of Not Your Average Boston Sports Podcast.

He is survived by his parents, Meg and Trevor Haydon, his brother Tyler and his wife Michaela of Chestnut Hill, and his brother Carter of Sudbury, many relatives and many dear, close friends.

Garrett's passion was sports, especially the Bruins. No March Madness was complete without his admonishments to the family to "Finish your bracket!"

He loved attending sporting events with family and friends, including the first ever WNBA game at the Boston Garden last year. At a young age he made a trip to Toronto to the Hockey Hall of Fame to see up close the Stanley Cup. And years ago he had the chance to be a K-Man at Fenway Park.

Throughout his school years, coaches encouraged him to keep stats for a variety of youth teams -- keeping him surrounded by and connected with his peers.

Garrett found his niche in broadcasting when he attended Play by Play Sports Broadcasting Camp in middle school and high school. Given the opportunity at Lincoln-Sudbury to call football, basketball, volleyball and a few hockey and lacrosse games for the Town's local access television station, he thrived. While in high school he had a chance to meet and receive encouragement from Steve Burton and Maria Stephanos.

His muscular dystrophy did not define him or limit his ability to immerse himself in broadcast, a passion he took to Springfield College where he majored in sports broadcast, had a radio show and called football games. For a time in college he wrote for Irish Sports Daily, the highlight of which was securing press credentials for a Notre Dame/Boston College basketball game.

His summers included many years of attending the Town of Natick's Camp Arrowhead and a week at "Res" in New Hampshire where he made many, many close lifelong friends. Arrowhead was the epitome of carefree fun where he could be himself in a sea of support and love -- a peerless community with strong bonds of caring and affection.

Last year his older brother Tyler and fiancé Michaela were thrilled and honored to have Garrett officiate their wedding. Garrett captivated all those in attendance with the perfect balance of humor and wisdom in his message of the importance of love and family. It was quintessential Garrett.

He will be sorely missed by his family and his lifelong friends.

Visiting hours at the Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap Street, Concord, Massachusetts, are Friday, July 25, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. His funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 26, at 11:00 am at Memorial Congregational Church, 26 Concord Road, Sudbury. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation in his name to:

The Path for Adaptive Opportunities, Inc., www.pathnatick.org to give other young people with special needs the chance to experience Camp Arrowhead

Boston Children's Hospital www.childrenshospital.org to support and sustain the unmatched medical care Garrett received throughout his lifetime.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association www.mda.org continues to further its excellent work by supporting individuals with various forms of muscular dystrophies. Garrett would be honored.

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07/19/2025

IN OUR CARE
Nicholas “Nick” Bridges of Lincoln MA passed away on July 2, 2025, as a result of pancreatic cancer. He was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, father-in-law, uncle, and friend to many. It will come as no surprise to those who knew him that he kept his characteristic sense of humor throughout his illness.

Nick was a life-long lover of music. He was born in Salina KS and graduated high school in St Louis MO. He earned his undergraduate degree from Harding Univ. in AR and a Masters in Music from Southern IL Univ. He started his music career by teaching music at Hazelwood HS in St. Louis. He continued his education at Boston University, getting a doctorate in Education, while teaching at Somerville HS. He often told stories of his teaching years in Somerville, where he met many colorful characters - a number of them becoming life-long friends. Afterwards, he became a professor of music education at Northern IL Univ. and Webster Univ. in St. Louis. Throughout his music career, he also served as choral conductor and vocal soloist at multiple schools & churches.

In the 1980s, Nick took his skills in education and applied them to the corporate world by making the shift to organizational development and training. His career moved him all over the United States as he worked as Director at Kraft Foods in Northfield IL, Coca-Cola in Atlanta, 7-Eleven, Inc. in Dallas, and Sears in Hoffman Estates IL. In 2003, he went out on his own to start his consulting firm, Barrington Organization Consultants. His career led to many remarkable trips, and even more remarkable tales of his worldwide journeys, where he greatly enjoyed learning about other cultures.

Living a combined total of 24 years in the Chicago area, Nick always remained a diehard fan of Chicago’s culture, institutions, and character. He and his wife Peg enjoyed going to the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera, where he served as a Guild Board member. After living “part-time” between Arlington MA and their beloved home in Barrington Hills IL, Nick & Peg moved to the Boston area in 2016 to be with family. Here they grew to enjoy the wide variety of musical & cultural offerings in Boston.

Nick is survived by his wife of 41 years, Margaret “Peg” McGirr, as well as daughters Sarah Sheldon (Daniel) and Emily Potter (Randall), and sister Linda Henderson (Thomas), and two adored grandchildren, Sparrow and Theo.

A memorial service will be held at a future date.

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07/17/2025

IN OUR CARE
Mary Allen Griffing Spindler died on July 11, 2025, with her two children, David and Henry, by her side.

She was a thoroughly invested resident of Lincoln, MA, starting in 1968. In 1986, she was part of the successful effort to revert what was then called Sandy Pond, where Thoreau first had a cabin, to its earlier name of Flints Pond. She was a member of the Lincoln Historic District Commission and was active in the Lincoln Historical Society, serving as its president for a time. Instead of “historic” or “historical,” in conversation with family or close friends she insisted on using “hysteric” or “hysterical.” As a member of the commission, she was sometimes in the minority, writing dissenting opinions on the side of preservation.

She never stopped learning. When her son Henry was majoring in chemistry in college, she pulled out her own college chemistry textbooks and tried to get up to speed. Books, NPR, magazines, and newspapers were her source materials, the latter two of which she would clip to create voluminous piles (known in the family as “rubble stacks”) for the further edification of her sons.

When her sons were young, she built for them from scratch a full-sized carpentry workbench and a child-sized faux sink and stove kitchenette. She kept the kitchenette for her grandchildren to use, along with a comprehensive collection of artifacts from her own past and those of her family members.

She was quick to express gratitude in speech and writing. Most of the postage stamps that she used were for thank-you notes, birthday wishes, and anniversary commemorations. She was modest to the point of not mentioning her accomplishments, making this obituary difficult to write with the accuracy that she would demand, even for her sons. Her husband had to tell her sons about her efforts to rename Sandy Pond, because she did not mention this episode to them. She liked to joke with her husband that plaques and monuments had been erected to commemorate places that he had visited, even as a child.

Mary Allen Griffing was born on July 24, 1939, in Harrisonburg, VA, to M. Scudder Griffing, originally of Shelter Island, NY, and A. Mildred (Allen) Griffing, originally of Somerset, KY. At the time, her family was living in Luray, VA; soon after, the family moved to Richmond.

While the family lived in Virginia, her father was employed by the National Park Service. In the mid-1950s, the family moved to Shelter Island, where nearly all of her father’s siblings lived. There she started high school before attending Friends Academy in Locust Valley, NY, with tuition assistance from a family friend. She majored in American Studies at Stanford University (a “junior university,” as she sometimes called it). She felt fortunate to benefit from classes with the novelist Wallace Stegner, and other professors whose names and classes she long remembered. She played on the women’s basketball team, which was not recognized as a legitimate varsity team until many years later, when she was honored with a varsity letter. Alongside her coursework, she held a job as a tour guide and pulled out bits of her spiel when the family visited the campus decades later. She graduated in 1961. The following year, she graduated with a master’s degree in education from Harvard.

She met James W. Spindler of Middletown, OH in 1957, and they were married in Shelter Island in 1964. He died in 2019, after living for many years with Parkinson’s disease. She was an extraordinarily diligent and indefatigable caregiver for him in his later years. She is also predeceased by her sister, Barbara Wagner, who lived much of her adult life in Darien, CT. In addition to her two sons, she leaves behind five grandchildren.

She worked as an elementary school teacher at Hanscom Air Force Base before getting married, and tutored reading at the Carroll School in Lincoln for much of the 1990s and the early 2000s. As an elementary school teacher, one of her favorite classroom teaching techniques was to have her students listen to music and draw what came to mind. She worked at the Lincoln Library in the latter part of the 1980s and the early 1990s.

She loved music. She was active in the St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church choir for decades, serving for a time on its committee to hire an organist. She played the piano avidly. She organized activities for her children and others, including a concert band conducted by Ken Keyes, and a soccer team coached by John Walker. To the delight of her sons, she did all that was humanly possible to have her family’s cocker spaniel, Kabuki, give birth to three litters of AKC-approved puppies, one of which grew up to be Jacqueline du Pré.

In her young adulthood, she had always wanted to live in an old house. She realized this ambition in 1974, when she and her family moved into a house built at various times during the 19th century. She derived joy from researching its history from oral and written sources, and in working in the gardens, fields, and woods around it. Her father had studied landscape architecture in college; from him she learned a vast set of plants names and the sense for which trees to cut down. She actively participated in the clearing of field-encroaching trees and bushes through her late 60s, and hauled firewood for her wood stove into her 80s. She moved to Carleton-Willard Village in Bedford in 2023.

A celebration of her life will be held at St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Lincoln on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 2:30 pm. A reception will follow.

For those who wish to attend services remotely, please visit the livestream link below five minutes before the scheduled service time: Livestream Link: https://iframe.dacast.com/b/156599/c/541148

Donations in her memory may be made to St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, Music Fund, stanneslincoln.org/give or P.O. Box 6, Lincoln MA 01773; or the Lincoln Historical Society, lincolnhistoricalsociety.org or P.O. Box 6084, Lincoln Center, MA 01773.

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07/14/2025

IN OUR CARE
The world has lost a remarkable, compassionate man with an infectious love of life.

Marc Pelletier (77), of Castine, Maine, formerly of Charlestown, Mass., passed away peacefully Saturday morning, July 5, 2025, at Massachusetts General Hospital. His beloved wife of 44 years, Penny Carlhian, and son, Grayson, were at his side.

Marc is also survived by a brother, Jean Paul Pelletier; sisters Lisa and Liane Pelletier; sister-in-law Judy Issokson; grandchildren Cassandra, Tyler, and Fawn; and great-grandchildren Lyle, Lilith, and Bjorn. He was predeceased by his parents, William and Laurette, and his brother, W***y.

Marc was born in 1948, the oldest of five children, in New Britain, Conn., a city of factories and foundries. His hardscrabble upbringing planted essential seeds for him to later flourish as a steadfast, self-made man, respected in communities he called home. He found meaning and purpose through his strength of character, a tenacious thirst for knowledge, an appreciation for exceptional craftsmanship, and a genuine interest in people. Perhaps most important, he learned early on that accomplishments would not come easily and that overcoming obstacles made success that much more gratifying.

As a young man, Marc left New Britain for Martha’s Vineyard, where he was a talented drummer in a rock and roll band, and apprenticed to an artisan carpenter before striking out on his own in the building trades. This brief period provided him with an opportunity to hone skills that appealed to his penchant for quality and precision. He migrated to Boston, where he soon discovered the Boston Architectural Center – later the Boston Architectural College. While attending BAC classes in the evening, he met Penny in 1977, who was also taking courses. They have been together ever since. He worked in a number of architectural firms before switching to construction and project management, eventually transitioning to marketing and business development, representing and advising design and construction clients.

His ability to integrate design and built environment-related domains fostered lasting affiliations and leadership positions with a number of business organizations. These included SMPS (Society of Marketing Professionals), CI (Construction Institute, Connecticut Chapter), PWC (Professional Women in Construction/CT), SCUP (Society for College and University Planning), and the Boston Society of Architects.

During his tenure as a member of the Boston Architectural College’s Board of Trustees, he served in key roles on the College’s Institutional Advancement Committee, Annual Retreat, Strategic Planning and Nominating Committees, and the Governance Task Force. In 2013, he was appointed Board Chair, and in 2016, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree for his extraordinary impact on the health and vitality of the College.

This summary of Marc’s professional accomplishments does not do justice to the style, good taste, and spirit he displayed when engaged in everyday moments that mattered to him.

Those who knew Marc well recognized him as a refreshingly old-fashioned fellow. Consider the joy he derived composing hundreds of handwritten cards or letters on fine stationery for any celebration or milestone in his impeccable cursive lettering using one of his many vintage fountain pens. This genteel routine represented his essential desire to preserve an all but forgotten tradition, one that captured people’s imaginations and left them feeling valued and special.

Marc was an exceptional dresser, donning exquisite, tailored wool or seersucker suits, an eye-catching silk bow tie, fashionable Oxfords or tasseled loafers, outrageously colorful socks…or any combination of the above.

He was a connoisseur of good food and drink, whether dining out or masterfully preparing a recipe he’d spotted in the NY Times; nothing was better than accompanying him to a greasy spoon diner that served amazing breakfasts or his favorite grilled hot dogs topped with mustard and sauerkraut.

He was all about exceptional music, jigsaw puzzles, woodworking tools, French bulldogs, NASCAR races, his pickup truck, and discovering remote hideaways in Maine.

No one was better at telling animated stories and jokes, especially comically questionable ones.

When he and Penny moved full-time to Castine in 2016, Marc wasted no time becoming involved with local government, serving on the Castine Historical Society and eventually chairing Castine’s Historic Preservation Commission. Visitors were delighted when he met them at the town dock, driving Scarlett, the Castine Touring Company’s 6-passenger electric golf car. His 90-minute tour around town was a perfect way to meet new people and translate local history into buoyant storytelling filled with facts, folklore, and a healthy dose of laughter.

Always a voracious reader, Marc turned to writing these last two years and joined an old man’s writing group to write and read aloud short stories recounting his past. The introduction to his 10 tales in their recently published book, Four Old Men Writing Together, gives an idea of what this experience meant to him. “Nobody can ever predict the paths our life’s journey will follow, and it is only with a glimpse into the rearview mirror that I have gained a better sense of who I am and how I got to this point in my 77 years.”

When asked recently how he would like to be remembered, Marc said he hoped to be seen as a man who lived a full life and gave of himself in as many ways as he could, whenever possible. This part of his legacy is rock-solid and secure.

Plans for memorial services honoring Marc this fall will be announced separately.

The family requests that donations be made in Marc’s name to:
The Boston Architectural College
320 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02115
617-585-0100
www.the-bac.edu
and/or
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
P.O. Box 22324
New York, NY 10087
888-557-7177
www.lls.org

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