obits

Rhonda J. Htoo of Lincoln died on August 31 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital with her husband by her side. She succumbed to the cancers with which she had lived her entire adulthood. She is survived by her husband, John OConnell; her parents, Dr. Maung Shwe Htoo and (Loretta) Anne (Shraybman) Htoo; her sisters Susan Htoo, Nancy Rathbun and Naomi Htoo-Mosher; her nephews, Matthew Mosher and Dan Htoo-Levine; her niece, Mya Mosher; her dear friends Connie Breese, Ava Stone, Betty Lou Edwards, and Annette Trivette; and, finally, her dog, Ella Htoo.

Rhonda was born August 7, 1957 and grew up in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. She was awarded a B.A. magna cum laude from Colby College and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She later went on to graduate from the Radcliffe Publishing Program and received her M.B.A. in high technology from Northeastern University.

Rhonda’s career in information technology included roles as Director of Information Systems at Inc. Magazine and Inc. Business Resources for the Goldhirsh Group; Director, Consulting at CGI; Systems Project Manager at Northeastern University; and Senior Project Manager, Information Technology at Harvard Business School. She was a certified project manager and member of PMI (Project Management Institute) and SIM (Society of Information Management).

Rhonda was active in support of the Jimmy Fund Walk, raising funds for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Thoracic Center (see Arlington grad Rhonda Htoo finds hope in Jimmy Fund Walk, Poughkeepsie Journal, 11/16/2016).

She was a gifted artist who excelled at painting, watercolors, drawing, photography, weaving, fiber arts, clothing design and fabrication, and jewelry making. She embraced music from all over the world. She relaxed by performing African drumming. She loved to read, especially literature, Nordic noir mysteries, hard-bitten detective stories, and cookbooks. She traveled the world and made friends everywhere. She enjoyed dancing, biking, skiing, hiking, rollerblading, walking, waterskiing, and snorkeling. She was an excellent, inventive, and adventurous cook. She had a gift for entertaining, and was a creative hostess. Rhonda was exceptionally beautiful, smart, mischievous, vivacious, inquisitive, lively, and funny.

Rhonda loved her home in Lincoln, where she enjoyed entertaining friends and gardening, watching the birds that flocked to her yard, and nature walks with her husband John and Boston terrier Ella.

Rhonda was a fundamentally joyful person, filled with positivity and kindness. She was caring, considerate, passionate and straight talking. She was a gregarious introvert. She was fiercely energetic and animated in discussions. She was extremely industrious and gave her all in everything she did. She never let her diseases turn her head, slow her down, or turn her around. She was cheerful and confident. She cherished her family and friends, for whom she was always present to provide love and advice. She was dependable in a crisis and was always prepared. Rhonda was spirited and courageous.

Rhonda was the best that a human can be. She is deeply missed by all who knew her. She is a bright star in the constellation Leo.

Donations in Rhonda’s name should be made to the Jimmy Fund Walk: https://www.jimmyfundwalk.org/2017/rhtoo.

(courtesy of Legacy.com)

Jack and Eleanor Mahoney

Eleanor (Davis) Mahoney, 79, of Lincoln, died peacefully following a long illness on July 9 at the Sunrise Assisted Living Facility in Weston. She was the cherished wife for nearly 60 years of the late John D. Mahoney, 82, who passed away on June 12 at the Massachusetts General Hospital following a brief illness (see below). They were residents of Lincoln since 1970.

Born on March 25, 1938 and raised in Waterbury, Conn., Eleanor was the daughter of the late Russell and Eleanor (Reihl) Davis. She attended the University of Connecticut before marrying John and completing her bachelor’s degree in art from Wellesley College.

A passionate artist from an early age,Eleanor was devoted to educating others about her knowledge in sculpture, watercolor painting, and most of all, ceramics. Beginning in the 1970s, she taught at Rivers School in Weston, the deCordova Museum in Lincoln, the Danforth Museum School of Framingham, and Camp Nonesuch in Weston.

John Mahoney, a retired real estate attorney, was born in Boston on February 18, 1935, the son of the late Cornelius and Elizabeth (Kane) Mahoney. He grew up in the Allston/Brighton area and was a graduate of Boston University School of Law and practiced at the firm of Goldstein, Mahoney & Levin in Boston prior to his retirement.

John was a talented athlete who qualified for the 1956 U.S. Olympic Team in speed skating. His agility allowed him to participate in barrel jumping, a difficult feat in the sport. He was the founder of the Friends of Boston University Hockey and also initiated the New England Junior Hockey League. He also represented the league for the 1980 Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs. In 1970, he built the Olympia Ice Center in Springfield, Mass. John was also a lifelong, avid golfer and a member of Wayland Country Club.

Survivors of the Mahoneys include two sons, Reihl Mahoney and his wife Sheryl of Lexington, and Squire Mahoney and his wife Pam of Douglas; their grandchildren, Jack, Alec, and Sabrina Mahoney, all of Lexington; and Eleanor’s brother, Russell Davis of Waterbury, Conn.

A celebration of Eleanor and John’s lives is planned for September with family and friends.

Eugene Rapperport

Eugene Rapperport died on July 12 at the age of 87. He was an MIT metallurgist who built Lincoln house designed by Lucy, his wife of 67 years. Click here for the full obituary and click here to make an entry into the guestbook.

 

Herbert Haessler, 91 (June 20) — senior warden of St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Church, member of Lincoln Board of Health.

Thomas P. Beal, 88 (June 13) — teacher at the Rivers School in Weston and the Fenn School in Concord.

Anne Marie (Broderick) Mahoney, 83 (June 9) — longtime health aide in the Lincoln schools.

Robert McCart, 81 (June 8) — brother-in-law of Anthony and Lucy Cotoia and Charles and Jean Stankard, all of Lincoln.

 

There will be a service on Friday, June 9 at 11 a.m. at the First Parish Church for Laura Dewey, who died on May 19 at the age of 90. She was active with the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum board, the Lincoln Town Democratic Committee, and the choir of the First Parish Church. Click here to read her obituary.

Robert H. Phelps, 97 (May 10) — senior editor at The New York Times and the Boston Globe.

Gloria N. Tinder, 89 (April 23) — survived by husband Glenn and son Galen.

A public celebration of the life of Nancy J. Zuelke will be held on Thursday, May 4 from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Pierce House to remember the long-time Lincoln resident and former Town Clerk who passed away April 15. Many people met her at the town offices where she worked from 1972-2017.

Nancy Augustus was born September 13, 1936 in Evanston, Ill. She grew up in Winnetka and Evanston with her sister Dottie (Martin). She attended Beloit College and then transferred to the University of Illinois at Champagne/Urbana where she completed a BA in sociology. Nancy met Larry Zuelke at a meeting of the Christian Science Student Organization. They married in 1957 and moved to Cambridge, Mass., and on to Lincoln in 1961, where they raised their three children. Larry, a former Lincoln Minute Man, passed away in 2015.

Nancy was always supportive and a strong force behind her family’s activities. She was a Cub Scout den mother, and she taught and participated in various arts and crafts with her children. For a short time, she was a tour guide at Drumlin Farm before beginning a long career at the Lincoln Town Hall. Starting out as an assistant to the Town Manager inn 1972, she eventually served as Town Clerk and assisted on numerous town boards from Appeals to Zoning.

After retiring, she continued to help at elections and was active in the Council on Aging. In 2016, she received Lincoln’s annual Bright Light Award. “I always thought [the award] was for someone with a bright idea and I’ve had no bright ideas. I’m just letting my light shine, that’s all,” Nancy said when she received the award at Town Meeting.

She enjoyed tennis, swimming, skiing, sewing, knitting, and gardening.  Nancy and Larry had many adventures throughout the U.S and around the world. She was always a good sport even when confronted with the steep Chilkoot Trail and rapids of the Forty Mile River in Alaska or hiking the fjords in Norway. During much of her tenure at the town offices, she rode her bike to work.

Nancy was an active member of the Christian Science church in Concord, regularly serving in the Reading Room as well as on other church committees. She had a long history of helping others. Donations in Nancy’s name can be made to the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging or a service organization of your choice.

Nancy has three children; Karl of Natick; Karen and Lynn of Fairbanks, Alaska; and eight grandchildren: Katrina, Elizabeth, Victoria, Leah, Gail, Jesse, Amy and Laura.

Members of the LincolnTalk email list can view reminiscences about Nancy here.

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Other obituaries:

Nancy Braasch, 96 (March 15) — survived by husband of 71 years and others. Service on Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m. at the First Parish Church.

John A. Esserian, 89 (March 20) — inventor of the handheld bar code scanner.