Brooklin
Mary Weaver Cummins, 88, of Brooklin, died Nov. 1, 2022, peacefully and in the company of family.
A longtime member and chair of the Brooklin School Board, she was instrumental in securing funding for the new Brooklin School, which opened in 1995. She earned the respect of the community for her even-handed management of occasionally contentious meetings.
Mary Weaver was born in Columbus, Ohio, on Feb. 5, 1934. She attended University High School, an experimental school affiliated with Ohio State University. She graduated from Ohio State in 1955 with a degree in elementary education. After graduation she traveled in Europe, including occupied Berlin before the building of the Wall.
The Blue Hill Peninsula became her permanent home in 1967, after many summers on Deer Isle. Her kids remember her as an instigator of fun projects and a frequent patron of the Blue Hill Library, where she encouraged them to take home large canvas bags full of books, and more importantly, to read them. At various times in her life she was a swimming coach, remedial reading teacher, jeweler’s assistant and ad salesperson for the Penobscot Bay Press. With her husband, Jim, she sailed Down East in Mehitabel, their 18-foot catboat, as far as Roque Island and Cutler.
She is survived by her husband, Jim Cummins; a brother, John Weaver; a son, Hank Garfield; four daughters: Maggie Garfield, Tiz Jordan, Martha Garfield and Kate Garfield; seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a brother, James Weaver.
A private family gathering in her remembrance will be held sometime next summer at the home she loved on Naskeag Point in Brooklin.
The family would like to thank Marlene Walker, and everyone at Total Care Solutions, for their excellent care of Mary during her last months.