Marguerite L Sinclair

Marguerite L. Sinclair, nee Bechtel was born in Brattleboro, VT on May 20, 1917 and died February 8, 2016. Her family was in Brattleboro only a short time before they moved to Milton, MA and thereafter to Newton Highlands, MA. From an early age she visited with relatives from Dover, NH, Wells, ME and Dubuque, IA. Descended from the earliest settlers in Wells, ME, she displayed the same spirit as her ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War as a drummer boy, from Fort Ticonderoga to Valley Forge--never giving up and always brave.

She graduated from Newton High School, and attended the Massachusetts College of Art where she got her degree in Costume Design with a minor in art. After graduation she won a place at the Cleveland(Ohio) Play House as assistant Costume Designer. Before the year was up, she was offered the Costume Designer's position. She returned to Newton Highlands just prior to the war, and when the war started she start working for Factory Mutual where she met her husband, Henry M. Sinclair. Both her husband and her brothers volunteered for the newly created Air Force.

She married Henry M. Sinclair on January 2, 1942 in Bennettsville, S.C. and both were moved to various bases, including Macon, Georgia, et al. She returned to Newton Highlands for the birth of her son, Robert(Oct. 1943) and she spent the remainder of the war there while also visiting her husband at various airfields in CO, OK, etc. Her brother Jack died while flying over the Pacific and her son kept his grandparents from despair. Her voluminous letters to her family throughout her life showed her love for living and her love of family.

Her son David was born in October 1946, and her daughter Sara was born in May 1955. She was an active participant in life, working with the Cub Scouts, the Brownies and the Girl Scouts as well as League of Women's Voters, PTA, Sunday School teaching, etc. Her zest for living and her broad and deep curiosity about the world--history, science, music(especially jazz) geography, geology, art, languages, cooking, gardening, mountain climbing, etc. was matched by her love of friends and family. She painted watercolors whenever she could. She and her husband enjoyed restoring old houses which they did in several locations.

Throughout her life, she stayed in contact with relatives and friends all over the country and abroad, visiting and being visited whenever she could. Her children always knew that their friends were welcome at all times, even when dinner was about to be served--somehow she always found more room and more food. She loved being outdoors and camping, and at all times enjoyed traveling, including Europe and all of Canada. She only missed seeing a few states, and camped in Alaska when she was in her late 70's. The family moved often, mainly within MA and CT and Florida, with the longest stays in Northborough, MA, and Wallingford, CT until she moved to Madison, CT where she lived out the rest of her days.

She's left behind 3 children, Robert G. Sinclair, David N. Sinclair and wife Carol, and Sara G. Sinclair, 2 grandchildren--Heather Sinclair, and Matthew and Allison (Sinclair)Bauer--as well as 6 great grandchildren.. She made the world a better place for all of us, and the world was a better place for her being in it. We will miss her wisdom and love.

Go with God, mama.

Vaya con Dios, mama.

Gehen Sie mit Gott, mama.

I cum Deo.

Идти с Богом

Que Dieu te garde, mama.