obits

Amalie Moses Hecht Kass of Belmont, formerly of Lincoln, died May 19. She was born in Baltimore on January 9, 1928 to Leslie and Helene Moses. She grew up in Baltimore with her brother Alfred Moses and sister Claire Moses Lovett and attended Wellesley College.

In 1949, she married Malcolm (Mac) Hecht Jr., with whom she had five children: Anne, Robert, Thomas, Jonathan, and Peter. Following Mac’s death, she married Dr. Edward Kass in 1975 and became stepmother to his children Robert, James, and Nancy Kass.

Amalie obtained her M.Ed. from Boston University and taught high school history in the Newton public schools. She later devoted herself to medical history, authoring two books (one with her husband) and many scholarly articles, with a particular focus on obstetrics, women’s health, and the intersection between medicine and social justice.

Amalie was a passionate supporter of and generous benefactor to her alma mater Wellesley College (where she was a trustee), the Massachusetts Historical Society (where she was the first woman to serve as board chair), the Greenway Conservancy, Planned Parenthood, and many other organizations. She was also an avid outdoorswoman, skiing, hiking, and gardening into her 80s.

Her greatest joy was her large family, which in addition to her eight children includes their spouses Loreta Matheo Kass, Robert Harrold, Jocelyne Albert, Susan Korrick, Lora Sabin, Sean Tunis, Kristina Jones, and Shan Soe-lin; her grandchildren Katie, Julia, Mark, Benjamin, Rebecca, Amelie, Evan, Nico, Alison, Hannah, Cody, Rachel, Mac, Gabe, Molly, Zoe, Alexis, Noah, Sophia, and Charlotte; and her great-granddaughter Emma.

Friends are invited to join the family for visiting hours at Amalie’s home at 20 Howells Rd. in Belmont from 5–9 p.m. on May 22 and 23. A shiva minyan will take place both evenings at 7 p.m. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Wellesley College. Share a memory of her on this Levine Chapels obituary page.

Contributions in Amalie’s memory may be made to the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts or the Pine Street Inn.

Craig C. Hill, age 91, of Lincoln and Bedford, passed away on May 6 after a many-year battle with multiple systems atrophy. He was supported during his illness by an amazing group of caregivers including Carol, Paula, Lisa, Gerry, and Vera. 

Craig had many talents and was an architect, editor, inventor, poet, and translator of The Complete Fables of La Fontaine, widely praised as one of the most vivid and imaginative translations of the 17th-century fabulist ever produced.

Craig was born in San Antonio and attended the University of Texas and the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He and his wife of 62 years, Heather, resided in Lincoln for 44 years before moving to Bedford. They traveled extensively and often with groups of close friends and spent more than 30 summers with friends and family at their home in Truro.

Craig is survived by his wife Heather, daughter Amanda and her husband Kevin, son Matthew and his wife Lisa, son Thomas and his wife Emmanuelle, and grandchildren Malcolm, Hazel, Hannah, Hardy, Montgomery, and Calvin. He is also survived by his brother Roger Hill of San Antonio. Craig was also the brother of the late Marian Hill.

A private burial service will be held at Lincoln Cemetery. To share a remembrance or to send a condolence in Craig’s online guestbook at Dee Funeral Home, click here.

Peggy Elliott, 1931–2019

Peggy Pegram Elliott passed away peacefully in her sleep April 12 at The Commons in Lincoln, where she had been residing for the last two and a half years.

Born in Houston on December 28, 1931, Peggy spent most of her childhood in Boerne, Texas. She attended St. Mary’s Hall in San Antonio through 12th grade, and got her degree in English at the University of Texas. She later moved to Chicago, where she met Bill (William G.) Elliott, the love of her life, whom she married in 1957. Bill and Peggy moved to Massachusetts to pursue Bill’s studies and work pursuits, living in Lexington for several years until settling in Lincoln in 1962. 

Peggy was active in local and national politics, was a Registrar of Voters, and was instrumental in starting the local Recycling Committee. She was also a homemaker who raised four children. She had a love for local theater, from acting and dancing in Lincoln Players in the 1960s to producing large musicals for the Concord Players into the mid-2000s.

In the 1980s, Peggy got her master’s degree in social work, and worked with various agencies until her retirement. More recently, Peggy was active in the Lincoln Council on Aging. She would go dancing whenever possible. Peggy lived in her house until 2016 when it became no longer feasible.

Peggy is predeceased by Bill, who passed away in 2014. She is survived by her children Mark of Lincoln, Randy (William R.) of Pawtucket R.I., Jocelyn of Lincoln, and Lawrence of Brooklyn, N.Y.; her sister, Joyce Jones of Memphis, Tenn.; her grandchildren Zachary of Deerfield, Mass., Jack Vilas of Charlotte, N.C., and Elizabeth Vilas of Amherst, Mass.; and her step-grandchildren Terese Quirk of Lincoln, Thomas Quirk of Lowell, and Tim Quirk of Durham, N.H.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, June 1 at 10 a.m. in the First Parish Church in Lincoln. Her ashes will be interred at a future date with her family in Boerne, Texas. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Lincoln Council on Aging, c/o Town Offices, 16 Lincoln Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773.

Bill Munroe, 1930–2019

William Munroe, William C. Munroe, Jr., an attorney and longtime Lincoln resident, died at his home on April 22 at the age of 90.

Bill graduated from Brown University and Harvard Law School, and was a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Randolph. He leaves his wife, Mary; daughters Hannah Munroe and Libby Munroe-Overberg; daughter-in-law Karen Munroe; his sister, Mary West; and seven wonderful grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, William A. Munroe.

Bill loved his family, his home, and the town of Lincoln. He will be deeply missed. He was buried at Lincoln Cemetery on April 24 during a private service, surrounded by his family.

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Arrangements for both Elliott and Munroe are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to send a condolence in the online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.

Foster M. Fargo, Jr. of Lincoln, the beloved husband for 52 years of former state Senator Susan Cooley Fargo, died suddenly and unexpectedly due to a cardiovascular event on April 14. He was 76.

Born in Jacksonville, Fla., on March 3, 1943, he was the son of Ruth (Reed) Savage and the late Foster M. Fargo, Sr., a U.S. Navy pilot who died during World War II shortly after his son’s birth. Foster was raised by his mother and her second husband Harlow Dow Savage Jr., whom he adored, and lived in New York, N.Y., Riverside, Conn., and West Hartford, Conn. through his childhood years.

After graduating from Philips Exeter Academy in 1960 and Yale College in 1964, he completed a master’s degree in electrical engineering at MIT and an MBA at Harvard Business School. He worked in the emerging computer technology industry from the early 1970s and was an innovator in the development of computer display and output systems, in particular, of ink jet printer technology.

Foster retired in 2004 and committed his time to family. He was recognized by all who knew him for his unassuming brilliance and a kind, humble, stalwart presence that created spaces in which others could thrive. Even remote acquaintances commented on the twinkle in his eye.

Foster was an accomplished cook, an avid reader of mystery novels, and a wizard at solving complicated puzzles. He was a consummate putterer who could build or fix almost anything. Many in Lincoln will remember him mowing and tending the large meadow along Trapelo Road behind the Fargo home.

In addition to his wife, he leaves behind his devoted daughter, Amanda Reed Fargo of Lincoln; his proud grandson, Brady Foster Fargo (who changed his middle name to honor Foster), also of Lincoln; one sister, Seddon Reed Savage and her husband William Carl Cooley (his wife’s brother) of Concord, N.H.; his sister-in law Marcia Cooley Blevins of McMinnville, Ore.; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A celebration of Foster’s life will be held on Saturday, May 11 at 11 a.m. at the First Parish in Lincoln. A private burial will be held at Lincoln Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Trustees of the Reservation, Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts, or the First Parish of Lincoln.

Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to send a condolence in his online guestbook, please click here.

Nathan Alexander Soukup, 17, passed away suddenly on Sunday, April 14. He was the loving son of Mark Alexander and Kimberly Ann (Snelson) Soukup. He was born in Cambridge on September 19, 2001. His family moved to Lincoln where he attended Lincoln Nursery School, Lincoln Public Schools, the Fenn School in Concord, and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, where he was a junior.

A lifelong resident of Lincoln, Nathan was into many local sports and outdoor activities. He was the troop leader of Lincoln Boy Scout Troop 127 and was in the process of completing the Eagle Scout rank. Nathan was an honor roll student and a junior member of the Lincoln Historical Society. 

Nathan was passionate about history, especially as it related to his lifelong hometown. He had encyclopedic knowledge of the roads, woods, and antique homes of Lincoln, and used this information to create beautifully illustrated maps of how the town appeared in past centuries. He located former privies on historical homesites and dug for bottles, earthenware, and tools used by the town’s earliest settlers. He catalogued and researched the history of every treasure he found and took immense pride in his archaeological finds.

In addition to his passion for history, Nathan was a driven honor roll student and formidable chess player. As a competitive athlete, he was a member of the varsity crew team, the varsity wrestling team, and the varsity cross-country team. He was also an adventurer, impressing all on a family trip to Wyoming — the only one to complete the top tier of the zip line challenge, confidently scaling the mountain face and bounding down trails on mountain bike.

Nathan’s summers were spent at his beloved Camp Mowglis on Newfound Lake in NH, where he began as camper, graduated with the rarely awarded Wolf’s Paw Badge, and continued as a junior staffer. Memories of the passionate, intelligent, adventurous, and sensitive young man Nathan was will carry on with all who love him.

In addition to his parents Kimberly and Mark, Nathan is survived by his brothers Nicholas, Connor, Colin, and Johnnie Soukup. He is survived on his mother’s side by his grandmother, Joan Snelson of Bedford; his uncle Brian Snelson, aunt Ann-Marie and cousins Gina, Carley, and Thomas of Chelmsford; uncle Craig Snelson, aunt Lynda, and cousins Malakai, Xander, and Liliana of Rochester, N.H.; and aunt Kerri L’Italien, uncle Ken, and cousins Kenny and Kyle of Dunstable.

He is survived on his father’s side by his grandfather, Michael Soukup, grandmother Linda and cousins Evan and Jessica of Blue Hill, Maine; grandmother Jane Soukup and grandfather Peter Smith of Dover, Mass.; and aunt Rebecca Eiler, uncle David, and cousins James and Lauren of Hanover, N.H. Nathan is also survived by dear friends and members of the Lincoln community too numerous to mention.

Funeral services will be Saturday, April 20 at 2 p.m. in the Trinitarian-Congregational Church, 54 Walden St, Concord. Interment to follow in Lincoln Cemetery. Visiting hours on Friday, April 19 from 4–7 p.m. in the Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap St., Concord.

Donations in Nathan’s memory may be made to the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation 
by clicking here. 

David Roswell Andrysiak, age 18, died peacefully at home in Lincoln on March 13, 2019, with his parents by his side. Born on November 30, 2000, he was the beloved son of Christopher and Sarah (Donaldson) Andrysiak. He is also survived by an adoring extended family that he loved deeply.

David attended the Middlesex School in Concord, where he relished academic pursuits (particularly math), the Jazz Band, sports, and good friends. Blessed with a quick wit and kind heart, David formed deep relationships with peers, mentors, and teachers. He was eager to return to school in the fall of 2018 for his senior year, but health issues intervened.

David was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor when he was a fourth-grader at the Fenn School. He never let the tumor define him. Through years of chemotherapy and progressive loss of vision caused by the tumor, David demonstrated grace, resilience, and adaptability. When vision loss impaired his baseball-hitting skills, he dedicated himself to becoming an excellent pitcher instead. After additional vision loss made baseball (his favorite sport) unsafe, David shifted to golf. “I knew this day would come, it’s okay,” he said. 

David spent six summers at Camp Becket as a camper and counselor, enjoying time spent outdoors and the strong community. In August, David’s tumor unexpectedly hemorrhaged while he was working at camp. The Becket community saved his life that day; over the next seven months, Becket friends lifted David’s spirits with weekly visits full of laughs and reminiscences. 

Thanks to the generosity of Middlesex School and David’s determination, he returned to campus to audit two classes in early 2019. Greeting friends, making music, and taking classes gave David moments of great joy even as his condition worsened.

While David lost his memory and his mental agility, his grace, gratitude, and kindness remained. “Thank you”, “How are you?”, “That was so nice for him to visit”: these were David’s words during the pain and confusion of his final weeks.

Hard-working, bright, and witty, David leaned in to life. Whether a subject he loved or disliked, a game he was winning or losing, David showed positive attitude, dry humor, and resilience. He could be counted on for a timely quip, an act of inclusiveness, or the grit to get through the final stretch. 

David most enjoyed baseball (playing and analyzing), school (working hard and doing well in the company of friends), music (listening, playing, composing), his dogs, and time with friends around a campfire. He always wanted to stay “in the game” even if that meant taking up a new position, new sport, or new instrument.

So many hearts are broken by David’s death. The Andrysiak and Donaldson families, as well as friends, mentors, and teachers, will miss him greatly.

Family and friends will gather to celebrate David’s life on Sunday, May 5 at 2 p.m. at the Middlesex School Chapel in Concord. Gifts in David’s memory may be made to support financial aid at two institutions that he loved: the David Andrysiak Scholarship Fund at Camp Becket, Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA, 748 Hamilton Rd., Becket, MA 01223, and the David Andrysiak ’19 Scholarship Fund at Middlesex School, 1400 Lowell Road, Concord, MA 01742.

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

Jennie Ciraso, 95 (February 24) — click here for obituary.

Richard Norcross Close, 95 (February 23) — click here for obituary.

Theresa Panetta (February 21) — click here for obituary.

Richard Johnson, 81 (January 31) — click here for obituary.

John Lee, 79 (January 29) — click here for obituary.

Dominick “Jim” Arena of Hudson, police and fire chief in Lincoln from 1976–1994, died on March 3 at age 89. He began his career with the Massachusetts State Police in Walpole and later served as the chief of police in Essex Junction, Vt., Edgartown, Mass., and Lincoln, where he also served as the fire chief. Calling hours and funeral starting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 9 at the Tighe Hamilton Regional Funeral Home (50 Central St., Hudson). Click here for full obituary.

Eleanor Fitzgerald, 79 (February 17) — educator, realtor, and town volunteer. Click here for obituary and February 21 funeral arrangements.

John E. Howard, 90 (January 26) — had dental practice in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Click here for obituary.

Theodore Dreier Jr., 89 (February 4) — longtime psychiatrist at McLean Hospital. Click here for obituary.