Esther Louise Maschio

Born in Cambridge, Esther was the daughter of the late Mary B. Vinton of West Roxbury.

Mother of Lisa Maschio-Hébert (Paul), Karen Maschio-Joyce (John), Bethany Maschio (José).

Loving Nana to Alicia (Matt), Alexandra, Jayna (Kevin), Kaleigh, Kathryn (Tyler) and Lilliana. Esther was ever present in her granddaughters' lives, attending all events no matter how big or small and enthusiastically celebrating every milestone.

Sister of the late Betty Stanek and late Sydney Vinton. Also survived by many nieces and nephews; she was especially close to Cathy (niece) and Mike Harris and Don (nephew) and Lou Vinton. She was lucky to have many close friends that were part of her daily life, she treasured these friendships.

Esther received her degree from UMass Dartmouth, and continued her studies at Northeastern and Suffolk Universities, where she met and later married her husband, Joe. They moved out of Brighton to Scituate where they started their family and settled into the community. Scituate was home for the rest of their lives.

Esther was a lifelong student. Focusing on her artwork, primarily printmaking.

She lived and breathed creating her art, she once said it was like air to her. Always trying new mediums and techniques. She was recently recognized by the SSAC for her 30+ years dedicated to the arts on the South Shore, receiving a ‘Teaching Legacy Award’ earlier this spring. Esther was still actively teaching at the center at the time of her passing.

Gardening was one of Esther’s passions, still tending to the garden she and her mother planted in the 1960’s brought her comfort and joy; she spent as much time ‘in the yard’ as she could. Community was also an important part of her life. She was an active member of the Scituate Senior Center, leading both a writing class and the group who curated the art shows that hung in the gallery. She was also a former President of the Scituate Arts Association in its early days at the Ellis House and in the Harbor.

Esther traveled to Italy in 2001, which is where her second act truly began. It was cathartic and inspired her yearly trips to Italy to study printmaking at the Camnitzer Studio. Traveling with fellow artists and friends, she enjoyed staying at the farmhouse for several weeks in the early fall, walking to the studio in the Italian hillside.

Esther recently completed her book “A Ten Minute Walk”, chronicling her time in Italy, her work, and her friendships there. She wrote it for her family so that they could share in her passion for her art and her love of adventure.

Services were held privately. There will be a Celebration of Life, at one of her favorite places, the South Shore Art Center, 119 Ripley Rd, Cohasset, MA on Sunday August 23 from 12-3pm.

There will be an opportunity for guests to write their favorite memories of Esther to be collected and put into a memory book for her family.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Esther's memory can be made to the Scituate Food Pantry or the South Shore Art Center in Cohasset.

A Foundation in Esther’s name is currently being created so that we may give back to the organizations Esther felt so passionately about. Details to follow.