CASTINE – Marjorie W. Wood, 81, passed away peacefully Nov. 9, 2011, surrounded by loved ones in Blue Hill. She was born Feb. 18, 1930, in Philadelphia, the daughter of Charles and May Merkel Wall.
She grew up in Drexel Hill, Pa., with her two older brothers, Charles and Robert; and lived near her childhood friend, Grace Kelly, with whom she often played. After her education at Oberlin College she married Samuel A. Stafford, and had four children between her years living in California and Bethesda, Md. While raising her children, Marjorie put her incredible talents to use working at various public relations positions from graphic artist to overseeing productions at Merriweather Post Pavilion booking numerous performances including The Who, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin and Marlene Dietrich. In 1975 she retired to Castine with her husband, Marshall Wood, and continued to raise her three daughters at Timberwyck Farm on Penobscot Bay. In 1984 she and Marshall built a solar home closer to her beautiful beach where she loved to take long walks and collect sea glass. She deeply cared for the Castine community and was extremely active in many community organizations serving in various capacities as board member, treasurer and emergency medical technician for the Castine hospital and Castine Community Health Services, Bagaduce Ambulance Corps and Bagaduce Area Health Resources, which she founded. In 1998, she was the recipient of Castine Citizen of the Year and Community Service Award. Margie was also very active in Castine Women’s Club serving as treasurer and chairman of the scholarship committee. She also started “Dinners at Noon” where community members could get out during the winter months to have a warm meal and socialize. She was also treasurer of Maine Federation of Women’s Clubs. Margie and Marshall enjoyed their time on Penobscot Bay with their large family visiting often. In earlier years they spent time at the Wood family summer home, Dobsis, on Lake Sysladobsis in northern Maine. She was a marvelous cook and gardener and loved artistically creating things for others. She always had kind words for everyone.
Margie is survived by three children, Daniel Stafford of Gaithersburg, Md., Laurie Stafford Tenney and her husband, Brad, of Castine, and Molly Stafford of Boynton Beach, Fla.; two grandchildren, Nicholas and Abigail Stafford of Gaithersburg, Md.; three sisters-in-law, several nieces, nephews and cousins. She is also survived by three stepchildren, David Wood and his wife, Paula, of Newport, R.I., Van Wood and his wife, Molly, of Greenfield, Mass., and Carol Sheehan of Waymart, Pa.; seven stepgrandchildren, 16 great-stepgrandchildren and several godchildren, all of whom she loved dearly. She was predeceased by her children’s father, Samuel A. Stafford; a daughter, Jennifer; and her beloved husband, Marshall K. Wood. Margie is also survived by many dear friends, among them Sarah and Caroline Hudson, Peggy and Kurt Ordway, and Chris and Pam Doane; and her much-loved dog, Maggie.
A celebration of her life will be held during the warmth of spring, her favorite season, at a time and place to be announced. Margie was a truly caring and generous person who will be dearly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Castine Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 585, Castine, ME 04421 to fund a scholarship in her memory. Arrangements by Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St., Bucksport.