Marjorie W. Pierce

Marjorie Wallace Pierce was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on April 12, 1917. She grew up in Longmeadow and attended the School Street School and the MacDuffie School in Springfield. She graduated from the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, Connecticut and from Vassar College with a BA in economics and art history in 1939. In 1941, she married Bruce H. MacLeod from Milwaukee. She served as a nurse’s aid at Wesson Maternity Hospital during World War II and on many boards in Springfield from 1940-1959. She was also Cochairman of the Massachusetts Legislative Clearing House in the 1950’s.

In 1959, Marjorie moved to Cambridge, MA, where she worked as a library intern at Radcliffe College. Divorced in 1962, she received her M.L.S from Simmons College of Library Science that same year, and went on to work at the library of Boston University until 1963. Because of her breakthough work she was in 1963 appointed to be Library Director at Babson College in Wellesley, MA, With a desire to continually challenge herself and in the pursuit of opportunities which would allow her to evolve her science, she took on the challenge of developing a “modern library” and thus, from 1968-1980, accepted the position as Library Director and Assistant Professor at Curry College in Milton, MA. During that time, she established the Curry College library as a U.S. Government Document Depository and brought the library into Nelinet, the early computerized library network, as one of its first members.

She served as board member/officer of several professional organizations, including Chairman of the Government Documents Task Group, President of the Special Library Association, Boston Chapter, President of the New England Technical Services Librarians, President of the Simmons Library Alumni, and Secretary of the Boston Chapter AAUW. Marjorie continued her education after Simmons, regularly attending various seminars and institutions, including the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement, for the rest of her life. She was deeply involved as an alumna of Vassar College class of 1939, serving as president of the Vassar Club and class officer over the years.

In 1977, Marjorie married George G. Pierce, a federal administrative judge from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Theirs was a marriage that brought to both great love, companionship and joy for the balance of their lives. They moved in 1981 to Brewster, Massachusetts, a community to which they were both dedicated and where Marjorie was a four-term elected member of the Brewster Planning Board from 1988 until the time of her death. She was a strong presence on multiple committees ensuring the preservation of historic structures and open space.

Marjorie loved to travel and traveled extensively her entire life throughout all four continents. She was a dedicated Red Sox fan and a lover of birds. In her latter years she followed closely current events and political developments, both at home and abroad. She had a passion to fill every moment of the day. She was devoted to her children, step-children and many grandchildren.

Marjorie was predeceased by her husband George in 2007. She is survived by her three children, Scott MacLeod of Chevy Chase, Maryland, Margo MacLeod of Austin, Texas, and Norman MacLeod of Westport, Connecticut. She also leaves behind five sons and daughters-in-law, six grandchildren, three step-children, six step-grandchildren, one great grandchild and many nieces and nephews. Her wonderful spirit, zest for life and uncompromising compassion will be missed.

A memorial service will be held for Marjorie on her birthday, April 12, at 12:00 at First Parish Brewster. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marjorie’s name to the Planned Parenthood Federation.

For more information and online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfhorleans.com