WAREHAM GARDEN CLUB - Key Persons

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Nancy C. MacKay of Wareham, formerly of Hopkinton, Medway, and Anna Maria Island, Florida, share her passing on July 6, 2021, at the age of 85. She was the daughter of the late Frank Chase Sr. and late Christine Fairbanks Chase, and the loving sister of Frank Chase and his wife Mary Chase, also of Hopkinton, MA. She was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Preston MacKay. Together they had 4 daughters; Julia MacKay and partner Bill Gledhill, her children Jennifer and Jeffrey Gonsalves; Beth and husband Todd Clark and their children Audrey and her partner Taylor Herr, Julie and her partner Mike Callahan, and Steven Clark; Lori M. MacKay, her partner Mike Zimmerman, her children Brandon and Brian McCurley and Brandon's partner Amanda Tekut; Amy and her husband Rich Cassidy, and their children Aidan and Liam Cassidy; and her seven beautiful great-grandchildren and multiple nieces and nephews. Nancy most loved spending time with her family and entertaining at her homes on the beach. She had an infectious smile and wonderful friends with whom she played mahjong and other board games. She loved her time on the ocean and watching the boats at Anna Maria Island in Florida and at her home in Wareham. Nancy graduated valedictorian of Hopkinton High School and was a graduate of Chandler College. She had an accomplished career in executive services and contributed to many volunteer efforts including leading the FISH Program in Medway, Faith in Serving Humanity, and as a library trustee in the town of Medway.

Paula Augusta Kingsbury (passed in December 2019) joined the Wareham Garden Club in 2015. Paula was born in New Bedford and received her bachelor's degree from UMass Dartmouth and worked as a call center supervisor for NSTAR in Wareham before transferring to their Westwood campus. She and her husband raised 2 children; she has 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. A parishioner of St. Patrick's Church in Wareham, she attended daily Mass for many years. She also assisted with St. Patrick's Table and the Nights of Hospitality; she was passionate about exercise and was a member of the Gleason Family YMCA in Wareham. As a member of the Wareham Garden Club, Paula was very active in horticultural projects and programs. Paula had a beautiful spirit, was very humble, loved her family, was very close to her grandchildren and adored her great grandchildren. She was creative, an avid gardener and also enjoyed knitting and drawing in charcoal. She was also an impeccable dresser!

Thomas "Tom" Louis Gleason, MD, of Wareham, passed away on February 28, 2020, at age 72 after a brief illness. He was the son of the late Marie Gertrude (Harper) Gleason and the late John "Jack" Thomas Gleason of Wolcott, CT. Tom was also the oldest of 4 children: Jacquelyn Pinard & her husband Kenneth of Boothbay, ME; John Gleason and his wife Pamela of Bedford, NH; and his late brother James Gleason. James' wife Deborah currently lives in Holliston. Tom married his cherished wife, Kathleen (Crownhart) Gleason in August 1971, and was a much-loved father to the couple's 3 children: Lori Caddoo & her husband Bill of Wayland; Ryan Gleason & his wife Juliet of Cheshire, CT; and Patrick Gleason of Wareham. Tom graduated from Fairfield University in Connecticut in 1969, graduated from Tufts Medical School in 1973, and did his internship and residency at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton. After graduating, he served the people of Wareham for over 38 years as a caring, compassionate, and highly skilled internal medicine physician, deeply respected by co-workers, colleagues, and patients alike. Tom also gave back to the community, both while still practicing, and after his retirement in 2014. Tom's involvement took many forms, including as a multiple time championship-winning former coach of the Gateway Babe Ruth Wareham Cougars baseball team, a dedicated member of Knights of Columbus, Fr. Grogan Council # 15280, Town of Wareham Board of Health, Bliss Family Foundation, the Wareham Garden Club, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and St. Patrick's Church food pantry in Wareham, where he was a longtime parishioner. Tom's favorite leisure activities included: rounds of golf at Little Harbor Country Club and other area courses, cheering on all Boston sports teams and the PGA Tour, gardening, tending his birdfeeders, building in his workshop, monthly dinners with friends, and spending time with his wonderful grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.