Marjorie Hewey Barberie

Marge, as she was universally known, was born in Melrose, MA, the eldest child of Norman S. Hewey, a railroad agent, and Mary “Ruth” Hewey. She graduated from Arlington High School where she excelled academically and earned a scholarship to Simmons College in Boston. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in what was then the relatively new profession of Physical Therapy. One of her very first patients as a young PT was Cy Jones, former headmaster of Milton Academy and widower of Frederica Vanderbilt.

Marge spent many summers in high school and later college waitressing in resorts along the Massachusetts coast including the Thorwald Hotel in Gloucester and the Coonamessett Inn on Cape Cod. It was at the latter where she met a handsome young fighter pilot named Bob. Not long back from the Korean War, Bob was stationed at the nearby Otis Air Force Base. They married shortly after her college graduation and spent their first years together on Cape Cod where they also welcomed their first child. Having been born and raised in a single area, it wasn’t easy at first but she soon adjusted to a military life which necessitated relocating every few years. Her first such move was to Montgomery, AL during the turbulent height of the Civil Rights movement which she said was quite a culture shock coming from the north. The Air Force later took them to Canada, California, Nebraska, Texas, Germany and finally to Hampton, Virginia, where she and Bob decided to retire from Air Force life.

In Hampton, Marge became a Girl Scout leader and shared many an amusing adventure with her troop. When her oldest started college, she dusted off her diploma and went back to work full time as a physical therapist for the Hampton City School System where she dedicated the rest of her career to working with multi-handicapped children and their families.

Her love of travel took her to destinations around the world and throughout the United States. She had a keen interest in history, particularly European, and loved visiting old cemeteries. When she and Bob were not traveling, she enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, music, and genealogy. She was particularly proud to be a member of the DAR and for many years was active in her local chapter.

Marge was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years as well as her parents and three siblings. She is survived by her three children, Fred (Cindy), Patty (Marty) and Karen (Victor) as well as her four grandchildren, Alex, Nick, Meghan & Andrew.