Marguerite J. “Maggie” Griffin, avid gardener, champion of local education, unrelentingly caring mother, feisty friend, keen-eyed noticer, and writer of many notes, died peacefully Feb. 15, 2018 at age 70. In her final days she was home with her brother (Joe), son (Erik), and daughter (Kara).

Maggie was born on April 11, 1947 in Hackensack, New Jersey to Vito and Antoinette Camobreco (née Carella). In the following years she lived in Westwood, New Jersey and was joined by her brother, Joe, and sister, DeDe. She graduated from New Jersey’s Westwood High School in 1965. Maggie married her first husband, Bard, and moved to the Boothbay region in 1968.

Maggie married Richard (Dick) Morrison on Aug. 8, 1973. They owned and operated Mainely Books in Boothbay Harbor, Maine during the mid-1970s. Dick and Maggie had their only child, Erik Thompson Morrison, in 1978 at St. Andrews Hospital. Erik, Dick, and Maggie lived in East Boothbay. In 1982 Maggie married Dr. Carl (Rus) Griffin Jr. Kara Marie Griffin was born at St. Andrews Hospital in the same year. Maggie, Rus, Kara, and Erik moved to a newly built house on Roads End in Boothbay Harbor. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Maggie served on the Boothbay Region schoolboard as a member and chairwoman. She managed Dr. Griffin’s office on Atlantic Avenue. Maggie was widowed for the second time when Rus passed away on March 20, 1997.

She raised Erik and Kara with pride as they both graduated from Boothbay Region High School in 1997 and 2001, respectively. Erik lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Kara with her husband, Dustin, in Hermon, Maine. Maggie took on the directorship of Boothbay Region Adult Education in the early 2000s. She served the community until her final weeks by organizing classes for the public, assisting many students to earn their GEDs, and fostering learning environments for people of all ages. She worked countless hours to ensure each person had the best opportunities possible.

Maggie’s caring personality manifested itself through her green thumb and particular love of day lilies. She enjoyed walking through the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. She tended to many plants year round and shared them with all who visited Roads End. Many of her plants continue to grow in homes and gardens across New England.

Maggie’s true love was her kids, their childhood friends, and the many people they met after moving away. Mom cooked meals for anyone who walked through the door and stocked a legendary snack closet. She was always there to take you home from practice, nurture you back to health when home sick, and mother you whether you thought mothering was needed or not (it was). In her later years she became a close friend to her kids.

Maggie left behind her loving children Kara and Erik; Kara’s husband, Dustin; her (Maggie’s) sister DeDe and her son Frankie; her brother Joe and his children Luc, Adam, and Ben, and their mother Andree. Her many friends included Jane and John, Mary and Pete, Trish and Mike, Jane and Kernan, Lori, Alice, Margaret, and Mary K. as well as predeceased Francie and Mary P.

Her children would like to thank our community for their ceaseless support of Maggie over these last two years, with special thanks to Lori, Trish, Mary, and Suzy. You mean the world to us.

A memorial service will be held on June 2, 2018 with details to be announced in the spring. In lieu of donations please continue on as caring and thoughtful people, it’s all Maggie ever wanted us to be.