Phyllis Cronin McCawley

Phyllis, Mum, Nan, was born on July 25th, 1925, joining her older sister Virginia as the second daughter of Harold Vincent and Evelyn Cooper Cronin. Sadly, her mother died when she was just two years old and she, and her older sister faced life and growing up with just their dad. She could not always be with her father, but he worked hard to provide them both with a happy and supportive home. Phyllis attended boarding school at Rosary Academy and graduated from Waltham High School in 1942. There was never a question in her mind that she would follow her older sister “Dinnie” to Radcliffe College, and when she did, the entire family moved to Chauncy Street in Cambridge.

Phyllis treasured her four years at Radcliffe, and her experience there instilled in her a passion for education, a passion she strived to convey to her children and grandchildren; and fostered her lifetime pursuit of learning. In addition to her BA from Radcliffe, Phyllis earned a M.Ed. from Lesley University and an Ed.D. from Boston College. Phyllis was always striving to learn more and better understand the world around her. After graduating cum laude from Radcliffe in 1947, she continued her education with graduate studies at the University of London’s School for Slavic Studies.

That was Phyllis’ first of three residencies in the United Kingdom. Decades later in 1977; she moved herself and the three of her children who were still at home, to Didsbury in northern England to study and lecture on special education at the then Manchester Polytechnic after being awarded a Teacher of the Year scholarship from Rotary International. Her third stay in England was from 1987 until 1994. She opted for an early retirement from the Director of Harvard University’s Cronkhite Graduate Center, and moved to Dorset in southern England. There she bought a small home, Chiltern Cottage, and took up residence in Thomas Hardy Country. From her new base in the UK, she was able to pursue her study of the history of Western Civilization full-time. She traveled widely, many times walking to and among the foundations and ancient ruins of culture in the British Isles, Europe, North Africa and Asia Minor.

After returning to her native Massachusetts, she took up residence in Sandwich and continued to study, learn and travel. Phyllis traveled across the globe constantly, but always with a purpose. Never a relaxed tourist in search of recreation and comfort, she prepared for her trips by intensely reading and researching the history and culture of her destination and used her time there to solidify and strengthen her understanding and awareness. She was enrolled in Cape Cod Community College’s Academy for Life-Long Learning, and continued to pursue her education right up to her passing.

Phyllis worked hard throughout her life and supported herself and her children as she raised them. She followed her passion and imparted learning to others, as an elementary school teacher, a special education teacher, a university professor and as an adult education instructor. She was dedicated to serving society through government service, political advocacy and activism and local community service. Phyllis embodied the principle of an informed and engaged citizen of this world; and she fearlessly and resolutely espoused the fundamentals of Liberalism in everything that she did. She stayed informed and aware of international, national and local news, and harbored a fundamental belief in the importance of responsible and engaged government that came from her experiences growing up during the Great Depression, and coming of age amidst the backdrop of the Second World War and start of the Cold War. A reserved but stalwart patriot, she went to work for a government agency (the Central Intelligence Agency) in 1950, long before its employees were permitted to speak about what they did or who they worked for. She continued her civic commitment and service to the community through her involvement in the League of Women Voters and later as the Director of the non-profit Massachusetts Association for Children with Learning Disabilities (Mass ACLD)

While working for the CIA, she was posted to Japan in 1952, and while she was there, she met and developed a friendship with one of her Radcliffe classmates’ brother; Sgt. Charles McCawley, U.S. Army, from Milton, MA. She and Charlie married in 1955, after they both returned to Massachusetts from their assignments overseas. They took up residence in Milton, and were soon joined by two children. They moved to Hingham in 1959 and the family continued to grow with the addition of three more children. The marriage ended in 1969, and Phyllis moved herself and her children closer to where she grew up. She raised her children in Weston and Wellesley, and in addition to working and pursuing her education, she managed things to ensure that she could afford her children access to a strong public education that she so valued.

Phyllis was “Mum” to five children, “Nan” to 16 wonderful grandchildren, and one beautiful great grandson; she is survived by her daughter Kathryn McCawley of Natick, MA and her children Brooke Ferrelli, Gregg Ferrelli, Marc and Erin Ferrelli and their son Aiden, Rachel Guilfoil and TJ Guilfoil; her son C. Andrew McCawley of Hingham, MA and his children 1LT Charles McCawley, U.S. Army, Kathryn and Carolyn; her daughter Meganne Johnson and her husband Brian of Atlantic Beach FL, and their children Devan and Hailey; her son Peter McCawley and his wife Ingrid of Atlantic Beach FL and their children Peter, Amanda, Sarah and Katie; and her son Brian McCawley and his wife Beth of Springfield, VA and their children, Russell and Maura; her brothers Jeff and Laurence Cronin; the beloved children of her sister Dinnie ; and Ms. Jean McCawley of Milton, MA.

Her children would especially like to thank Mum’s wonderful friends who have supported and sustained her and kept her in their hearts and lives. Phyllis held strong beliefs and expressed herself directly and unflinchingly; perhaps because of this, she was blessed with the ability to attract amazing people into her life. She formed a circle of deep and enduring friendships, and she counted her friends amongst her greatest treasures. When she was 16, she formed what became a life-long friendship with Stella, who she met as a penpal in England. Over the subsequent 75 years, everywhere she traveled or lived, she added to that list of dear friends; Joanne, Jill, Marguerite, Trish & Bob, Mike & Sylvia, Ju, Helen, Jan, just to name some of them. As she settled at her home in Sandwich, she added many more; Caddie, Jeannie, Lauren, Ruth, Charlie, Nancy, Charlotte, Linda, John & Jane, Tim, and many more.

Family and friends will honor and remember Phyllis' life by gathering for calling hours in Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 154 Old Kings Highway, Route 6A Sandwich, MA, on Tuesday, August 11th; from 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday August 12th; at 11:00 a.m. Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich, MA. Burial will follow in Sandwich Town Cemetery.

Although of very modest means, Phyllis consistently and faithfully supported organizations that worked to ensure the preservation of the Earth and the protection of animals. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to such an organization. She regularly supported the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF).