obits

Due to a rainy forecast, the memorial service for the late Mark Hagenian that was scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30 will instead be held on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 11 a.m. in the Lincoln Cemetery.

John Adams of Andover and Lincoln died on October 7 of Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia at the age of 79. A direct descendant of John Adams and John Quincy Adams, he maintained strong ties to the Adams Historical Site in Quincy, often giving talks about important events in the Adams’ lives.

John was born on April 13, 1941, eight months before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Due to the war, his early childhood was spent on various army bases where his father, Thomas Boylston Adams, a Boston Globe columnist for many years, served as a gunnery instructor, teaching young men to shoot down fighter planes from B-17 and B-24 bombers. John was the oldest of five children and grew up in Lincoln, where his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather had also grown up.

In many ways his family resembled a typical Boston upper class family of the ’50s and ’60s: prestigious clubs, private schools, frequent entertaining, and travel abroad. But his parents put a significant twist on this pattern by privileging and promoting artistic and cultural achievement in their guests and the lives of their children. John’s mother, Ramelle Cochrane Adams, was an accomplished pianist and the house was often filled with the sounds of children practicing or impromptu concerts. A trip to France was organized around a pilgrimage to the great cathedrals where the children were taken to high mass to experience the power of music in the vast spaces and were then later tasked with drawing a stained glass window or writing their impressions in their sketchbooks.

John spent every summer from the age of seven at a family compound on the South Shore called the Glades Club. There he was a leader of a tribe of children and shared all the sports passions of the time: swimming, diving, spearfishing, sailing, tennis, softball, model making, charades, beckon and magic glove. Forecasting what would become his obsession with naval history, John led his cousins in assembling from kits a fleet of battery-operated warships. The group deployed them in dramatic battles in Glades puddles, culminating in their destruction by cherry bombs.

The usual educational paths for an Adams at this historical point were either the fields of the humanities or finance. Science or technology was a discipline the Adamses respected but definitely considered alien to their family culture. Nevertheless, John’s style of thinking did not lend itself to areas of gray. He liked to use his intense focus to solve complex problems with a definitive outcome. And so he majored in math at Harvard and then, by 1974, achieved master’s and PhD degrees in structural engineering from Tufts and MIT, respectively.

His special insight at this time was seeing the possibilities of the computer as it applied to the practice of engineering. In 1965, the computer was in its infancy and its power to solve real world problems was just beginning to be realized. At this pivotal moment, by chance, John was given the opportunity to run the computer center at Tufts and thus gained so many insights about its application to engineering that he taught a course using the computer to design the structures of buildings. He was thrilled to note his professors sitting in the back row of his classroom. It was when he was at Tufts in 1966 that he met Patricia Jones, a fellow Harvard student from West Hartford, Conn., to whom he was married for 53 years.

In 1972, after the birth of their first son, Sam Adams, John and Patty bought a big old house with John’s brother Peter Adams and his wife Sherry on the Higginson estate just up the hill from his parents’ house in Lincoln. Another brother, Douglas Adams and his wife Trish, built a house across the pond from this house, thus forming a kind of informal Adams enclave. John and Patty’s second son, Darcy Adams, was born in 1977. These families lived abutting each others’ very spacious back yards, raising their children together for 20 years. The Adams parents continued to be the glue holding the family together, planning the special rituals of holiday celebrations, Sunday teas, and dinner parties often followed by Shakespeare readings, waltz evenings or a lecture at the Massachusetts Historical Society.

All his life, John never stopped being the paradigmatic oldest child. He was caretaker and teacher to his siblings and children, enthusiastic cheerleader and supporter of his wife, and later mentor and leader of the large groups of engineers building complex products and over whose careers he watched. He had a huge impact on the lives and careers of many people. He was respected and loved by people around the world. He gave workers confidence by seriously listening to their opinions. He helped employees see the unique value they added to the team, giving them visions of themselves that built on their uniqueness. His openness to new ideas made controversial issues discussable and fostered a safe space in which to be honest and direct. The nature of his job was to let others speak and thereby foster the technical development of the group. But he allowed himself to show his deep technical prowess when presenting the products his groups designed. Customers sat spellbound listening to his visions of how they could transform the way they did business using his products.

John often led by example. In a fast-paced and competitive environment, first at Digital Equipment Corp. (1976-1996) and later at RSA Security (1996-2001), John urged his team to put family first. He had large pictures of his wife and sons all over his office and rarely missed an important event in their lives. He inspired his group to keep family foremost in their thoughts.

In terms of professional accomplishments, John was especially proud of his contributions bringing the pioneering Ethernet LAN technology to market while at Digital. He was also proud of being an integral part of the acquisition of RSA Data Security when he worked for Security Dynamics. His vision for their integration into RSA Security helped set the tone for the merged companies, ultimately creating one of the most recognized names in cybersecurity.

In addition to his beloved wife Patricia Adams, his beloved sons Darcy Adams and Sam Adams, and his cherished daughters-in-law Lena Adams and Courtney Adams, he also leaves his adored granddaughters Quincy Adams, Mary Adams, Lucy Adams, Georgia Adams, and Jane Adams. He leaves his much-loved brothers Douglas Adams and Henry Adams, beloved sister Ramelle Adams, sisters-in-law Patricia Ingersoll Adams, Marianne Adams and Sherry Adams, and brother-in-law Jeffery Lukowski. John was predeceased by his brother, Peter Boylston Adams. There will be a private service in celebration of John’s life this summer.

Condolences and memories may be left on Legacy.com.

Mark Joseph Hagenian, 68, a lifelong resident of Lincoln, passed away from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on the Kancamagus Scenic Byway in Albany, N.H. on October 15.

Devoted son of Irene R. Hagenian of Lincoln and the late Joseph C. Hagenian, Mark was the adoring father of Nicholas, Stephen, and William Hagenian, all of Lincoln. He was the brother of Ann McManus and her husband Russ of Hancock, N.H., and the late Charles Hagenian. Mark is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends.

A 1970 graduate of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, Mark furthered his education at Western New England College. Mark began his career at Swanson Pontiac in Lincoln and later became a mechanic at the dealership. He spent many years as a manager at American Food Holding Corp., which owned and operated restaurants across Massachusetts, including almost 30 years at Jimmy’s On The Mall in Burlington. In recent years he worked as a dispatcher for Corporate Limousine in Woburn.

He loved spending time with his family and being outdoors enjoying nature. He enjoyed fishing, camping trips to Newfound Lake, N.H., and vacations in Wells, Maine and at The Balsams in Colebrook, N.H.. He was an excellent cook, and he enjoyed his hours in the vegetable and flower gardens.

Mark was a longtime member of Grace Chapel Church in Lexington where he enjoyed deepening and sharing faith with his fellow church members. At Grace Chapel, he was a member of the Shine Program, which taught religious education to individuals with learning disabilities.

Mark recently felt a renewed excitement for motorcycling. His motorcycle, a 2019 Harley Davidson Heritage Classic Softail, was his pride and joy; he put thousands of miles on it in the last half year. He loved taking day trips all over Cape Cod, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. Lately, he often would pick a destination from his past and take a ride to revisit it. He would then send a picture to his mom, sister, sons, or friends, having them guess where he was from the photograph. The day of his accident, he was riding the Kancamagus, appreciating the peak fall colors.

Mark will be interred alongside his father and brother at Lincoln Cemetery on Friday, October 30 at 11 a.m., with his friend and minister from Grace Chapel, Reverend Cynthia Fantasia, officiating. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mark’s name may be made to Grace Chapel, 3 Militia Drive, Lexington, MA 02421. Arrangements by the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home in Burlington. Click here for the online guestbook.

Harold A. Hallstein III died on October 7 at age 70 of heart failure after a period of declining health. An owner’s representative in construction, he had a long career managing projects in a variety of venues throughout New England. 

Hallstein was born on May 6, 1950 in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, the son of Harold Hallstein Jr., a sales manager with TRW, Inc., and Sue Palmer Hallstein, homemaker and golf champion. He was the third of four siblings (Sue of Willoughby, Ohio; Ann Lee of Easthampton, Mass.; and Robert, deceased. Known as Joe to his friends, Hallstein attended both public school and Hawken School in Gates Mills, Ohio. He went to Carnegie Mellon University and graduated in 1972 with a BFA in sculpture. He married artist and classmate Susan Richards in 1973. 

Hallstein’s talents led him to create his own construction business after moving to Brookline, Mass. in 1974. Prior to founding the Hallstein Company Inc., Joe worked for the town of Brookline and later for Parencorp Inc. a real estate development firm. He and Susan moved to Lincoln in 1993 after renovating two homes in Brookline.

In Lincoln, he was involved with charitable projects at Codman Community Farms and served on their board of directors. He was also on the board of the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center and acted as a construction advisor for the First Parish Church in Lincoln. One of his favorite projects was the award-winning Forest Refuge in Barre, Mass., where he met and became friends with many respected teachers in Buddhism. 

Hallstein was an avid fly fisherman, enjoying yearly trips to the Miramichi river in Canada to fish for Atlantic salmon. He built his family home in Lincoln and continued to hold conference calls with clients until a few days before his death. 

Hallstein is survived by his wife, Susan; two children, Harold A. Hallstein IV of Boulder, Colo., and Jocelyn Adams; and his son-in-law Trevor Wissink-Adams of Jamaica Plain. A memorial service and celebration is being planned for spring of 2021. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made in his memory to the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust at www.lincolnconservation.org. Proceeds will benefit the Flint’s Farm field heritage, which abuts his resting place in the Lincoln Cemetery. 

Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.

Walter A. Bossert Jr., an 11-year resident of Lincoln, died peacefully at home on October 10.

Bossert was born in Manhattan on October 5, 1932 to Christina and Walter A. Bossert Sr. He graduated from Columbia College with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and has been a member of the John Jay Society for over 40 years. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954-1957 where he was lieutenant commander and top secret security officer during the Korean War, most notably at Mt. Rushmore’s Strategic Air Command Base during the Suez Canal Crisis of 1956. 

After his service, Bossert attended the University of Virginia Law School and graduated in 1960. Walter joined the Wall Street law firm of Gould & Wilkie serving 34 years, 19 of them as senior partner. Gould & Wilkie, founded in 1892, was perhaps best known as the firm where Judge Learned Hand practiced before his appointment to the federal bench. During Bossert’s tenure, he was general counsel to several well-known corporations including Associated Dry Goods and their principal division, Lord & Taylor, Tiffany & Co., and Central Hudson Gas & Electric Co.

In 1980, Bossert, along with his partner Davison Grant and renowned lawyer Telford Taylor, chief prosecutor of the Nuremberg trials, successfully argued before the Supreme Court Central Hudson Gas & Electric vs. Public Service Commission (447 U.S. 557). This landmark case is still studied in law schools today in regard to First Amendment rights.  

Until the day he passed away at age 88, Bossert remained an active member of both the New York City and SCOTUS Bar Associations as well as “of counsel” to Thompson & Hine, Gould & Wilkie’s successor. He was an avid music lover and historian who was instrumental in establishing Lyrica Chamber Music with his wife, classical pianist Mariel Bossert. The award-winning series included collaborations with the Emerson, Lark and Muir String Quartets and presidential “musical playlets” authored by Bossert.

Bossert is survived by his wife, Mariel; son William; daughters Ellen and Laura; daughters in law Barbara Bossert and Suzanne Woolston Bossert; son in law Terry King, grandson Christopher; granddaughters Brooke and Kaitlin’ nieces Elizabeth Ahner, Rebecca Bossert, and Carey Ahner; grandnieces Olivia and Cordelia; cousins Alice and Joyce; and three beloved family dogs, Buddy, Maestro, and Mama Chia.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his name may be sent to Lyrica Boston Inc. a 501(c)(3) non- profit musical, educational and outreach organization at https://www.lyricafest.org/make-a-donation or by check to Lyrica Boston Inc. 53 South Great Rd., Lincoln, MA  01773. Services will be private. Visitors may post on an online memory wall at walter-albert-bossert.forevermissed.com.

Dorothy Marion (Johansen) Marchant, 92, formerly of Waltham and Lincoln, died on August 29. Click here for full obituary.

Dorothy Patricia Jensen died peacefully in her home in Lincoln on August 6 at the age of 99. Click here for full obituary.

Edna J. (Barry) Hankey, 94, of Boca Raton, Fla. and formerly on Lincoln, passed away peacefully on July 25. Click here for full obituary.

After a long and great life of 95 years, Robbie passed away peacefully on Aug. 22, 2020 with his son Jonathan at his side. 

Born and raised in Newton, Robbie attended Newton South High School and graduated from Harvard University in 1946. He loved his time at Harvard and met his wife, Margaret Garfield Cunningham, at a gathering after a Crimson football win. 

World War II delayed graduation from Harvard. Robbie was stationed in Hawaii and then the Quadulan, part of the Marshall Islands. He was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant. 

After graduation from Harvard, Robbie joined his father in the family wholesale hardware business, C.A. Cunningham Co. First as a road salesman calling on lumberyards and then as the company president, he helped develop the company into one of New England’s prominent specialty distributors. 

Robbie and Margaret made their home in Lincoln and loved the rural town and all its conservation land. The area was great for their dogs and cats, and Robbie loved to walk the Prestons’ woods trails with the dogs. 

Robbie joined the Lincoln Minute Men and was sure to attend all their events. The annual highlight was the march from Lincoln to Concord for the April 19th celebration, and parade commemorating the battles of Lexington and Concord. 

In 1990, Robbie and Margaret welcomed Kathryn Dempsey Cunningham into the family when she married their only son Jonathan. Robbie loved her like she was his own daughter and was so happy when they had three children (Susan, Michelle and Amy). After Margaret died in 2002, his later years were spent attending various plays and sporting events of his grandchildren. 

One of Robbie’s favorite ways of investing was finding and buying real estate in locations before they were prominently developed. He and Margaret particularly enjoyed Phippsburg, Maine and Naples, Fla. They loved hosting family and friends and taking them to the Naples beach and pier. Jon, Kathy and their kids took many great trips to Naples. 

Robbie loved history and one of his favorite passions was the Arnold Expedition Historical Society, a group formed to preserve and protect the land that Benedict Arnold marched on from Maine to Quebec. In 1975, to celebrate the 200-year anniversary, he led 600 people on a reenactment of the march. It was quite an event and long remembered by many. 

He also enjoyed being charitable and donated to many charities helping the disadvantaged. Robbie believed in giving back and paying forward. He felt that the world was becoming faster, but that did not necessarily make it better. Robbie was a great communicator and while recognizing the importance of technology, he wished people would converse more and come together instead of being buried in technology. 

He leaves his son Jonathan and wife Kathryn of Lincoln; grandchildren Susan, Michelle and Amy; brother Tony Cunningham and his wife Aurora; and their children Lydia and Charlie. 

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a wake and church service with reception will not be held. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a public graveside service on Friday Sept. 4 at 1 p.m. at Lincoln Cemetery. Officers of the United States Army will present military honors. All attendees are required to wear masks and practice social distancing.  

Please omit flowers and gifts. In lieu of, please consider donating to the Pine Street Inn for homeless men and women, 444 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118.  

Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in Robbie’s online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.

Elizabeth (Ogilvie) Kimnach, 81, of Lincoln and formerly of Concord, passed away peacefully on August 20, 2020.

Elizabeth was the younger daughter of the late Gordon H. Ogilvie and Florence (Brier) Ogilvie of Concord and Wellesley. A dedicated mother and grandmother, she is survived by her loving family members: sister Marjorie Anne Ogilvie, daughter Deborah Speer Watson, son Robert Ogilvie Speer and his wife Nora, and grandchildren Emily Louise Watson, Jack Morgan Speer, Kendra Rose Watson, Cole Michael Speer and her first husband, Richard L. Speer. 

Betty graduated from Concord-Carlisle High School in 1957 and married Richard “Dick” Speer after meeting him at the University of Vermont. A versatile athlete and often a team captain, she was a member of the Concord Country Club and The Country Club of Brookline. Summers before college, she was a lifeguard at Walden Pond. She played team tennis for 35 years and skied all over the United States and Europe.

Santa G. (Messina) Cotoni, 99, a longtime Lincoln resident, died at home while surrounded by her loving family on August 14. She was the beloved wife for 61 years of the late Joseph D. Cotoni, Sr., who died in 2003.  

Cotoni was born on February 23, 1921, the daughter of the late Vincent and Josephine (DiDomenico) Messina. She grew up in Watertown and graduated from Watertown High School, then settled in Lincoln after marrying Joe. She devoted her life to raising her family and assisting in the operation of the family farm in Lincoln. She was a parishioner at St. Joseph Church, and in her later years, resided at the Ryan Estate in Lincoln.  

She leaves behind her children, Joseph Cotoni, Jr. and his late wife Sandi of Wayland, Arthur Cotoni and his wife Penny of Lincoln, and Dianne Mola and her husband Emilio of Shirley, as well as eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Several siblings also predeceased her. 

Family and friends will gather for visiting hours on Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Dee Funeral Home (27 Bedford St. Concord). Her graveside service will be held at 12:45 p.m. in Lincoln Cemetery on Lexington Road, Lincoln. All attendees are asked to wear masks and practice social distancing. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Lincoln Firefighters Association, P.O. Box 19, Lincoln, MA 01773. Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.