Mother of residents, researcher, honored conservationist and Concord citizen
Marian Thornton. (Courtesy photo)
Marian Francis Thornton was born in Boston on Sept. 14, 1933, and, while a resident of Newbury Court in Concord, died peacefully on Feb. 24, 2019, surrounded by her family.
She attended Winsor School and Smith College and worked at Brigham Hospital on blood research. She was known to many in the conservation world and in Concord for her work in saving land for future generations to enjoy. She chaired the Concord Conservation Commission and the Concord Land Conservation Trust, and she served on the boards of the Massachusetts Audubon Society and the Trustees of Reservations.
Marian received many awards for her work, including the 1994 Conservationist of the Year award from the Trustees of Reservations, the 1998 Charles Eliot Award from Historic Massachusetts, the 2000 Audubon Award from Massachusetts Audubon Society, and the 2008 Honored Citizen award from the town of Concord.
She is survived by her husband, Richard Thornton of Concord; daughter Margaret Webber and her husband Todd of Harvard; son Richard Thornton and his wife Toni of Los Altos, California; son Douglas Thornton and his wife Alison of Harvard; and seven grandchildren: Alex Webber, Kip Webber, Karen Thornton, Margo Thornton, Christopher Thornton, Arianna Thornton, and Nicholas Thornton.
In the spring there will be a private burial followed by a celebration of her life. As she was an Honored Citizen of Concord, the flag in Concord center will be at half-staff on that day.
Contributions in her memory can be made to Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Drumlin Farm, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773, and the Concord Land Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 141, Concord, MA 01742.
