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August 18, 1922 - June 25, 2010
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August 18, 1922 - June 25, 2010
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Marjorie Maxham died peacefully at age 87 in Weymouth, MA on June 25, 2010. She was born Marjorie Kingsley Palmer on August 18, 1922 in Boston, and was raised and lived her life in Braintree. Her parents, Raymond and Margaret Palmer lived on Edgehill Road. Her father served in the US army as Major, was a Massachusetts State Representative, chaired the Board of Braintree Selectmen and ran an educational publishing business. Her mother was an organist, choir director, piano teacher and started Marjorie on piano lessons at age 4. Marjorie’s significant musical career began at the age of 8 as a French horn player. In her last years of high school, she was principal horn of the Boston Women’s Symphony, having studied with Willem Valkenier, principal horn of the Boston Symphony. Marjorie graduated from Braintree HS in 1940, and attended Middlebury College in Vermont, graduating in 1944 with a major in English literature. At college, she enjoyed riding her Morgan horse in the hills of Vermont and giving winter sleigh-rides to fellow students. During her entire period at Middlebury College, she played principal horn with the Vermont State Symphony. While Marjorie was in college, her high-school sweetheart Donald Maxham rode up to Vermont on a motorcycle from his Army station on Cape Cod to visit and romance her. The two were married in the spring of 1944. After having two daughters, Elizabeth and Virginia, Marjorie and her husband Donald purchased the Captain John Holbrook house in Braintree Highlands, now the third oldest house in Braintree. In 1957, Marjorie was appointed as a teacher in the Braintree public schools, where she taught for 23 years. As a very highly-regarded teacher, she nurtured the fourth-grade students at the Foster, Highlands and Morrison schools. From the late 60s to the early 70s, Marjorie earned a Masters Degree in Education at Boston University, and pursued advanced graduate studies at Bridgewater State College and Boston University, leading to certification as Librarian/Media Specialist. In 1953, Marjorie joined the Quincy Symphony, where she played horn for 56 years, wrote program notes, and served on the Board, and as a Trustee and Treasurer. Other orchestras Marjorie played in included the Brockton Symphony Orchestra (24 years), Hingham Civic Orchestra, Plymouth Philharmonic, Bridgewater Antiphonal Brass Society, and the Massasoit Senior Orchestra. During an extended period during her retirement, she played in four of these orchestras concurrently. In 1980, Marjorie retired from the Braintree school system and focused on library science by working at the Brandeis University Science Library and attending several workshops on the preservation of historical materials. In 1990 she completed an award-winning reference library for the Braintree Historical Society. In the mid 1980s, Marjorie made significant contributions to the book Braintree Massachusetts: Its History. Marjorie also authored many other published articles about the history of Braintree, was a frequent lecturer on topics ranging from Thomas Watson to town government and served on the Braintree Historical District Commission. Throughout her adult life, Marjorie was an active member of First Congregational Church of Braintree. While she was active with the church music committee and activities, it was teaching Sunday school that piqued her interest in teaching, and launched her teaching career. Marjorie was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many, always thinking of others and their needs before her own. Throughout her life, she enjoyed socializing with family and friends, horseback riding, boating, reading biographies of historical figures, doing genealogical research, and making music at almost every opportunity. Marjorie Maxham is survived by her husband and sweetheart of 72 years, Donald Maxham, daughters Elizabeth DeMone of New York City and Virginia Menge of Sudbury, MA, granddaughter Julia Perham of Maynard, MA, and great-granddaughter Maya Perham. Interment will be at Massachusetts National Cemetery at Bourne. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army which was Marjorie's favorite charity because of its support for Veterans. A memorial service will be held at First Congregational Church at 12 Elm Street, Braintree on September 12, 2010 at 2:00 pm. |
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