~MARCIA MORRILL, 85; WAS AUTHORITY ON AND DEVOTEE OF NEWFOUNDLAND DOGS
Marcia MORRILL's grown children do not remember a time when their Newton home was devoid of pets.
From a mynah bird named Ben who mimicked Mrs. MORRILL's voice, to seven or eight Newfoundlands she raised and showed around the country for some 30 years, she loved them all, and in return, they loved her. "Children and animals loved my mother," said her daughter Carolyn of Newton.
As for the pets, she said, "Mother talked with them non-stop." In one way or other, they seemed to talk back. When Mrs. MORRILL wanted her husband, Samuel L., to know dinner was ready, Ben would call out in her exact inflection: "Sam, time for dinner!" And just like Mrs. MORRILL did, Ben would also tell the cat to "go out."
When one of her big black Newfies was off his feed, Mrs. MORRILL would coax him to eat by mixing cooked hamburger with dog food and feeding it to him by hand, said another daughter, Diane REGAN of Newton. A pet -- the family also had hamsters, turtles, and a bunny name Binkie -- did not have to be ailing to get the royal treatment. The response was usually a wet kiss or a nuzzle.
Mrs. MORRIL, an honorary lifetime member of the Newfoundland Club of America and the Newfoundland Club of New England, died of cancer August 23 at her Newton home. She was 85.
Sam MORRILL, a purveyor of rare books, loved animals as much as his wife, if not the showing of them, and helped out immensely in their care and grooming, walking them and attending shows all over the world with her. He also was awarded honorary lifetime membership in the Newfoundland clubs. On the day they married, the MORRILLs acquired a beagle. They had been married for 60 years when Mr. MORRILL died in 2006.
Their family has cherished memories of their pets. REGAN recalled that during the Blizzard of 1978, "when the snow was piled to the top of the fence" in their yard, the three Newfies they had then "just walked over the fence and out of our yard." A neighbor called police and reported "three black bears" in her yard.
There also was one spring day when the same three Newfies wandered off and did not return. When the family drove around trying to find them, they saw them being led home by the MORRILLs' cat, Yellow, the offspring of a stray young Diane had brought home.
"Mother was a woman of strong convictions and opinions," Carolyn said. "She said exactly what she felt without mincing words. But, she was generous of spirit and of time and counted as friends people all over the world and from all walks of life."
REGAN said her mother acquired her knowledge of the breed by going to a lot of dog shows and dog training classes.
Marsha Davidson, a Newfie breeder from Sherborn and a friend for 35 years, sold several Newfoundlands to Mrs. MORRILL and believes that she had at least three championship winners.
Mrs. MORRILL also showed Schipperke dogs, which are as tiny as Newfoundlands are large. Unlike many who spend their lives with dogs, Mrs. MORRILL was not the kind of woman who walked around with the pets' fur covering her clothing.
"Marcia always looked like a million bucks," said John Adams of Lexington, a Newfie club member. "She was extremely dedicated, demanding, dynamic and opinionated. Once you met her, you never forgot her."
The youngest of five children, Marcia GRASS was born in Boston and raised in Brookline. She attended Edward Devotion School in Brookline, graduated from Brookline High School in the early 1940s, and graduated from the former Garland Junior College, now part of Simmons College in Boston. She and Sam married in 1946. They lived in the same house in Newton for 52 years.
Mrs. MORRILL began raising Newfoundlands around 1972, REGAN said. More than 20 years ago, she took time out from her family and pet duties to assist REGAN's husband, James, formerly of South Boston, in his successful run for Newton alderman. She manned the phones and stuffed envelopes. "Marcia was my mentor," he said, recalling how she welcomed him into her family and the Newton community. "She was loyal and protective."
A granddaughter, Jessica REGAN of Newton, said she and the other grandchildren "could sit and talk with her about dating and crushes like a friend. Grandmother was a huge gossip." she said.
In addition to her two daughters and granddaughter, she leaves another daughter, Susan of Cambridge, and another granddaughter.
She also leaves Payton, her last Newfie, who is clearly mourning the loss, Carolyn said.
Services have been held.
(Published in The Boston Globe (MA), Thursday, September 10, 2009.)
~
Marcia MORRILL's grown children do not remember a time when their Newton home was devoid of pets.
From a mynah bird named Ben who mimicked Mrs. MORRILL's voice, to seven or eight Newfoundlands she raised and showed around the country for some 30 years, she loved them all, and in return, they loved her. "Children and animals loved my mother," said her daughter Carolyn of Newton.
As for the pets, she said, "Mother talked with them non-stop." In one way or other, they seemed to talk back. When Mrs. MORRILL wanted her husband, Samuel L., to know dinner was ready, Ben would call out in her exact inflection: "Sam, time for dinner!" And just like Mrs. MORRILL did, Ben would also tell the cat to "go out."
When one of her big black Newfies was off his feed, Mrs. MORRILL would coax him to eat by mixing cooked hamburger with dog food and feeding it to him by hand, said another daughter, Diane REGAN of Newton. A pet -- the family also had hamsters, turtles, and a bunny name Binkie -- did not have to be ailing to get the royal treatment. The response was usually a wet kiss or a nuzzle.
Mrs. MORRIL, an honorary lifetime member of the Newfoundland Club of America and the Newfoundland Club of New England, died of cancer August 23 at her Newton home. She was 85.
Sam MORRILL, a purveyor of rare books, loved animals as much as his wife, if not the showing of them, and helped out immensely in their care and grooming, walking them and attending shows all over the world with her. He also was awarded honorary lifetime membership in the Newfoundland clubs. On the day they married, the MORRILLs acquired a beagle. They had been married for 60 years when Mr. MORRILL died in 2006.
Their family has cherished memories of their pets. REGAN recalled that during the Blizzard of 1978, "when the snow was piled to the top of the fence" in their yard, the three Newfies they had then "just walked over the fence and out of our yard." A neighbor called police and reported "three black bears" in her yard.
There also was one spring day when the same three Newfies wandered off and did not return. When the family drove around trying to find them, they saw them being led home by the MORRILLs' cat, Yellow, the offspring of a stray young Diane had brought home.
"Mother was a woman of strong convictions and opinions," Carolyn said. "She said exactly what she felt without mincing words. But, she was generous of spirit and of time and counted as friends people all over the world and from all walks of life."
REGAN said her mother acquired her knowledge of the breed by going to a lot of dog shows and dog training classes.
Marsha Davidson, a Newfie breeder from Sherborn and a friend for 35 years, sold several Newfoundlands to Mrs. MORRILL and believes that she had at least three championship winners.
Mrs. MORRILL also showed Schipperke dogs, which are as tiny as Newfoundlands are large. Unlike many who spend their lives with dogs, Mrs. MORRILL was not the kind of woman who walked around with the pets' fur covering her clothing.
"Marcia always looked like a million bucks," said John Adams of Lexington, a Newfie club member. "She was extremely dedicated, demanding, dynamic and opinionated. Once you met her, you never forgot her."
The youngest of five children, Marcia GRASS was born in Boston and raised in Brookline. She attended Edward Devotion School in Brookline, graduated from Brookline High School in the early 1940s, and graduated from the former Garland Junior College, now part of Simmons College in Boston. She and Sam married in 1946. They lived in the same house in Newton for 52 years.
Mrs. MORRILL began raising Newfoundlands around 1972, REGAN said. More than 20 years ago, she took time out from her family and pet duties to assist REGAN's husband, James, formerly of South Boston, in his successful run for Newton alderman. She manned the phones and stuffed envelopes. "Marcia was my mentor," he said, recalling how she welcomed him into her family and the Newton community. "She was loyal and protective."
A granddaughter, Jessica REGAN of Newton, said she and the other grandchildren "could sit and talk with her about dating and crushes like a friend. Grandmother was a huge gossip." she said.
In addition to her two daughters and granddaughter, she leaves another daughter, Susan of Cambridge, and another granddaughter.
She also leaves Payton, her last Newfie, who is clearly mourning the loss, Carolyn said.
Services have been held.
(Published in The Boston Globe (MA), Thursday, September 10, 2009.)
~
~MARCIA MORRILL, 85; WAS AUTHORITY ON AND DEVOTEE OF NEWFOUNDLAND DOGS
Marcia MORRILL's grown children do not remember a time when their Newton home was devoid of pets.
From a mynah bird named Ben who mimicked Mrs. MORRILL's voice, to seven or eight Newfoundlands she raised and showed around the country for some 30 years, she loved them all, and in return, they loved her. "Children and animals loved my mother," said her daughter Carolyn of Newton.
As for the pets, she said, "Mother talked with them non-stop." In one way or other, they seemed to talk back. When Mrs. MORRILL wanted her husband, Samuel L., to know dinner was ready, Ben would call out in her exact inflection: "Sam, time for dinner!" And just like Mrs. MORRILL did, Ben would also tell the cat to "go out."
When one of her big black Newfies was off his feed, Mrs. MORRILL would coax him to eat by mixing cooked hamburger with dog food and feeding it to him by hand, said another daughter, Diane REGAN of Newton. A pet -- the family also had hamsters, turtles, and a bunny name Binkie -- did not have to be ailing to get the royal treatment. The response was usually a wet kiss or a nuzzle.
Mrs. MORRIL, an honorary lifetime member of the Newfoundland Club of America and the Newfoundland Club of New England, died of cancer August 23 at her Newton home. She was 85.
Sam MORRILL, a purveyor of rare books, loved animals as much as his wife, if not the showing of them, and helped out immensely in their care and grooming, walking them and attending shows all over the world with her. He also was awarded honorary lifetime membership in the Newfoundland clubs. On the day they married, the MORRILLs acquired a beagle. They had been married for 60 years when Mr. MORRILL died in 2006.
Their family has cherished memories of their pets. REGAN recalled that during the Blizzard of 1978, "when the snow was piled to the top of the fence" in their yard, the three Newfies they had then "just walked over the fence and out of our yard." A neighbor called police and reported "three black bears" in her yard.
There also was one spring day when the same three Newfies wandered off and did not return. When the family drove around trying to find them, they saw them being led home by the MORRILLs' cat, Yellow, the offspring of a stray young Diane had brought home.
"Mother was a woman of strong convictions and opinions," Carolyn said. "She said exactly what she felt without mincing words. But, she was generous of spirit and of time and counted as friends people all over the world and from all walks of life."
REGAN said her mother acquired her knowledge of the breed by going to a lot of dog shows and dog training classes.
Marsha Davidson, a Newfie breeder from Sherborn and a friend for 35 years, sold several Newfoundlands to Mrs. MORRILL and believes that she had at least three championship winners.
Mrs. MORRILL also showed Schipperke dogs, which are as tiny as Newfoundlands are large. Unlike many who spend their lives with dogs, Mrs. MORRILL was not the kind of woman who walked around with the pets' fur covering her clothing.
"Marcia always looked like a million bucks," said John Adams of Lexington, a Newfie club member. "She was extremely dedicated, demanding, dynamic and opinionated. Once you met her, you never forgot her."
The youngest of five children, Marcia GRASS was born in Boston and raised in Brookline. She attended Edward Devotion School in Brookline, graduated from Brookline High School in the early 1940s, and graduated from the former Garland Junior College, now part of Simmons College in Boston. She and Sam married in 1946. They lived in the same house in Newton for 52 years.
Mrs. MORRILL began raising Newfoundlands around 1972, REGAN said. More than 20 years ago, she took time out from her family and pet duties to assist REGAN's husband, James, formerly of South Boston, in his successful run for Newton alderman. She manned the phones and stuffed envelopes. "Marcia was my mentor," he said, recalling how she welcomed him into her family and the Newton community. "She was loyal and protective."
A granddaughter, Jessica REGAN of Newton, said she and the other grandchildren "could sit and talk with her about dating and crushes like a friend. Grandmother was a huge gossip." she said.
In addition to her two daughters and granddaughter, she leaves another daughter, Susan of Cambridge, and another granddaughter.
She also leaves Payton, her last Newfie, who is clearly mourning the loss, Carolyn said.
Services have been held.
(Published in The Boston Globe (MA), Thursday, September 10, 2009.)
~
Marcia MORRILL's grown children do not remember a time when their Newton home was devoid of pets.
From a mynah bird named Ben who mimicked Mrs. MORRILL's voice, to seven or eight Newfoundlands she raised and showed around the country for some 30 years, she loved them all, and in return, they loved her. "Children and animals loved my mother," said her daughter Carolyn of Newton.
As for the pets, she said, "Mother talked with them non-stop." In one way or other, they seemed to talk back. When Mrs. MORRILL wanted her husband, Samuel L., to know dinner was ready, Ben would call out in her exact inflection: "Sam, time for dinner!" And just like Mrs. MORRILL did, Ben would also tell the cat to "go out."
When one of her big black Newfies was off his feed, Mrs. MORRILL would coax him to eat by mixing cooked hamburger with dog food and feeding it to him by hand, said another daughter, Diane REGAN of Newton. A pet -- the family also had hamsters, turtles, and a bunny name Binkie -- did not have to be ailing to get the royal treatment. The response was usually a wet kiss or a nuzzle.
Mrs. MORRIL, an honorary lifetime member of the Newfoundland Club of America and the Newfoundland Club of New England, died of cancer August 23 at her Newton home. She was 85.
Sam MORRILL, a purveyor of rare books, loved animals as much as his wife, if not the showing of them, and helped out immensely in their care and grooming, walking them and attending shows all over the world with her. He also was awarded honorary lifetime membership in the Newfoundland clubs. On the day they married, the MORRILLs acquired a beagle. They had been married for 60 years when Mr. MORRILL died in 2006.
Their family has cherished memories of their pets. REGAN recalled that during the Blizzard of 1978, "when the snow was piled to the top of the fence" in their yard, the three Newfies they had then "just walked over the fence and out of our yard." A neighbor called police and reported "three black bears" in her yard.
There also was one spring day when the same three Newfies wandered off and did not return. When the family drove around trying to find them, they saw them being led home by the MORRILLs' cat, Yellow, the offspring of a stray young Diane had brought home.
"Mother was a woman of strong convictions and opinions," Carolyn said. "She said exactly what she felt without mincing words. But, she was generous of spirit and of time and counted as friends people all over the world and from all walks of life."
REGAN said her mother acquired her knowledge of the breed by going to a lot of dog shows and dog training classes.
Marsha Davidson, a Newfie breeder from Sherborn and a friend for 35 years, sold several Newfoundlands to Mrs. MORRILL and believes that she had at least three championship winners.
Mrs. MORRILL also showed Schipperke dogs, which are as tiny as Newfoundlands are large. Unlike many who spend their lives with dogs, Mrs. MORRILL was not the kind of woman who walked around with the pets' fur covering her clothing.
"Marcia always looked like a million bucks," said John Adams of Lexington, a Newfie club member. "She was extremely dedicated, demanding, dynamic and opinionated. Once you met her, you never forgot her."
The youngest of five children, Marcia GRASS was born in Boston and raised in Brookline. She attended Edward Devotion School in Brookline, graduated from Brookline High School in the early 1940s, and graduated from the former Garland Junior College, now part of Simmons College in Boston. She and Sam married in 1946. They lived in the same house in Newton for 52 years.
Mrs. MORRILL began raising Newfoundlands around 1972, REGAN said. More than 20 years ago, she took time out from her family and pet duties to assist REGAN's husband, James, formerly of South Boston, in his successful run for Newton alderman. She manned the phones and stuffed envelopes. "Marcia was my mentor," he said, recalling how she welcomed him into her family and the Newton community. "She was loyal and protective."
A granddaughter, Jessica REGAN of Newton, said she and the other grandchildren "could sit and talk with her about dating and crushes like a friend. Grandmother was a huge gossip." she said.
In addition to her two daughters and granddaughter, she leaves another daughter, Susan of Cambridge, and another granddaughter.
She also leaves Payton, her last Newfie, who is clearly mourning the loss, Carolyn said.
Services have been held.
(Published in The Boston Globe (MA), Thursday, September 10, 2009.)
~
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
