The Lincoln Squirrel – News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

obits

Obituaries

Thomas Leggat, 89 (April 9) — co-founder of commercial and industrial real estate firm Leggat, McCall and Werner. A service to celebrate Tom’s life will be held Saturday, May 7 at 2 p.m. at the First Parish in Lincoln.

Henry Leggat

Thomas Leggat

Henry Cretella, 89 (April 11) — attorney and retired U.S. Coast Guard captain.

Henry Cretella

Henry Cretella

Obituary: Marnie Smith Wengren

Marnie xxx

Marnie Smith Wengren

(Editor’s note: This obituary was submitted by Marnie Wengren’s daughter-in-law, Tucker Smith.)

Margaret “Marnie” Lanphier Smith Wengren, formerly of Lincoln, died peacefully at her home in Lexington on March 8, six weeks before her 100th birthday. Lincoln was her home from 1957 until 1989, when she moved to Brookhaven in Lexington.

Born in Springfield, Ill., on April 21, 1916, Marnie remained proud of her Midwestern roots to her last days. Springfield was the home of Abraham Lincoln and in his second inaugural address, he said: “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on…” Marnie was proud to live by these words. When asked about the secret to her longevity, she eagerly responded, “curiosity and gratitude.”

As a member of the First Parish Church in Lincoln since 1957, she served on the Prudential Committee (now the Parish Committee), the Deacons and many other committees. For the past 27 years while living in Lexington, Marnie attended Sunday services despite rain, sleet or snow. Her prayers were legendary among the church community.

Marnie graduated from the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. in 1934 and from Vassar College in 1938. She married DeWitt Smith in 1938 and lived a nomadic life as the wife of a mining engineer while raising her four children.

In 1966, after her marriage ended and with an empty nest, she began a career in the Education Department of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  She began as a volunteer, graduating to gallery instructor. Over 13 years she studied to teach on the Egyptian, Greek and Roman collections, as well as the American collection. She also spent two years working in the Asiatic collection, which introduced her to Hindu and Buddhist art, a field she was particularly fond of through her later years.

Among Marnie’s many passions, one in particular was her commitment to Lincoln’s deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, where she served as a trustee (1979-97), board president (1981-84) and overseer (1977-79 and 1997-2012). She also served as deCordova’s interim executive director from 1980-81 and was one of the museum’s longest-serving guides. She was inducted into the docent program in 1967 and remained active for over 30 years. In 1989, the museum dedicated the Marnie Wengren Education Room, and family and friends gathered at the deCordova to celebrate Marnie’s life at a reception following her memorial service at the First Parish on March 15.

In 1968, she married Richard “Dick” Wengren, who died in 1999. Marnie was not only a wise and thoughtful matriarch; she inspired many as role model and mentor. She will live on in the many lives she touched.

She is survived by her four Smith children, Henry DeWitt Smith II and his wife Kimie of New York, N.Y.; Susie Smith White and her husband Lindsay (Peter) of Cambridge, Mass.; Ellen Smith Harde and her husband Mike of Westford, Mass.; and R.L. Smith and his wife Tucker of Lincoln, as well as Dick Wengren’s three children, Martha Tattersall and her husband Robin of Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Ted Wengren and his wife Mary Eliza of South Freeport, Maine; Carla Ricci and her husband Russell of Providence, R.I., 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services were held at the First Parish in Lincoln on March 15. Memorial gifts can be made to the First Parish in Lincoln, Box 6218, Lincoln, MA 01773.

Correction

candle2The March 8 Obituaries article included an incorrect link and age in the obituary of Ray Tomlinson. The article has been updated to reflect this correction.

Obituaries

Clockwise from top left: Ray Tomlinson, Lorraine Chur Wang, Katherine Staples, xxx, Hazel MacInnis.

Clockwise from top left: Ray Tomlinson, Lorraine Chur Wang, Katherine Staples, Claire Daniels, Hazel MacInnis.

(Editor’s note: This article has been updated to remove an incorrect link in the Ray Tomlinson segment.)

Ray Tomlinson, 74 (March 5) — inventor of modern email who chose the “@” symbol to connect the username with the destination address. He and his partner Karen Seo raised miniature sheep in Lincoln. See obituaries by the Associated Press and the BBC.

Lorraine Chur Wang, 95 (March 1) — widow of An Wang, founder of Wang Laboratories, Inc.; helped establish Wang Center for the Performing Arts.

Hazel MacInnis, 93 (February 24) — former teacher’s aide in Lincoln.

Claire Daniels, 87 (February 6) — retired employee at the South Postal Annex.

Katherine Staples, 79 (February 2) — 35-year teaching career in Lincoln, Boston and Acton.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obituary: Laurence W. Zuelke, 84

Larry Zuelke as a Lincoln MinuteMan in 2006. Photo courtesy Henry Hibben.

Larry Zuelke as a Lincoln MinuteMan in 2006. (Photo courtesy George Hibben)

Laurence W. Zuelke, 84, passed away on December 1 at the Chestnut Hill Benevolent Association. He was a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean conflict and had a long and distinguished career working for The Architects Collaborative (TAC) in Cambridge for 28 years and in private practice until 2010.

He and his wife Nancy Augustus were happily married for 58 years, including more than 50 years in Lincoln. As a wedding present to each other, they purchased a 1957 VW bug that Larry restored and enjoyed driving (see the Lincoln Squirrel, Jan. 17, 2013). He also participated in many Revolutionary War reenactments with the Lincoln Minute Men and was captain for one of their most important events, the inaugural parade for President Clinton.

Services and interment will be private. Donations in his memory may be made to a nonprofit organization of your choice. Click here for the full obituary.