Miriam Anne Collinson

Miriam A. Collinson died on October 27, 2023 at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis after a long illness. She was the only daughter of Raymond E. and Rose (Enos) Martin born on July 26, 1942 in Provincetown.

With the passing of Miriam, Provincetown has lost a treasured member of the community. Miriam lived her entire life in Provincetown, attending the old Governor Bradford School in the west end and graduating from Provincetown High School with the Class of 1960. The bonds of friendship Miriam developed in her youth as a Conant Street “Cutie”, and beloved classmate and friend, brought lasting joy she fostered throughout her life.

For several years after graduating from PHS, Miriam worked as a Police Dispatcher for the Provincetown Police Department when the Police Station was located in the basement of Town Hall. She then began working for Robert Collinson at his newly opened Dunes Edge Campground in the mid 1960’s. This decision changed her life. Miriam and Bob married and Dunes Edge became her life’s work. After Bob’s passing, Miriam continued to operate the campground for over 40 years. She welcomed camping guests and their families to her woodland campsites on the edge of the Provincetown dunes. These campers and their families became an extended family for Miriam and they continued their friendships with her long after her retirement to Truro.

In later years, Miriam and her partner Jim Buckingham would run the campground in the summer and travel in the winter. These were the best of times for Miriam as she loved seeing new places and having new adventures. Her travels took her to Europe, across country in a motorhome, and then to Portugal in search of relatives.

Miriam had the warmest affections and love for her black labs. You could often find her walking her lab Danny at the beach or the wooded trails in Provincetown or Truro.

Miriam served Provincetown in many capacities over her lifetime on various boards and committees. She was a lifelong communicant of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church serving for many years in the St. Vincent De Paul Society.

Dunes Edge Campground is now owned and operated by the Trustees of Reservations ensuring that Miriam’s legacy of camping access to nature will continue for future generations.

Miriam was predeceased by her parents, Raymond and Rose Martin, her brother Stephen R. Martin, her husband Robert Collinson, her partner James Buckingham, and her very dear friend William “Bill” Von Der Heydt.

She is survived by her sister in law Lynne Kimball-Martin, her niece Kirsten Lamattina, husband Michael, and their children Noelle, Nick and Alex, her cousins Cynthia Doherty, Amanda Morris, Pam Medeiros, Wesley Medeiros, Michael Medeiros, and other family and dear friends.

A funeral mass with be celebrated at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 11th at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Provincetown. The disposition of the ashes will happen at a future date.

Donation in Miriam’s memory can be made to the Provincetown, Box 109 Provincetown MA 02657 or Truro Fire Association, PO Box 88 Truro Mass 02666