Marion Jacobus

Orford, N.H. — Marion Townsend Jacobus, 89, a passionate teacher and devoted community advocate, passed away on May 15, 2016 at Hanover Terrace Healthcare. Born on Jan. 20, 1927 in New York City to Howard and Caroline Townsend, she grew up in Poughkeepsie and Peekskill N.Y. Following her graduation from Vassar College and subsequently receiving a Masters Degree at Indiana University, Marion’s interest in puppetry lead her to found the Puck Players, a repertory Puppet Theater that produced plays for young and old members of the Bloomington Indiana community that otherwise had little access to theater and magic of puppetry. 

Marion first brought her passion for puppetry and the education of our youngest to the Upper Valley in 1969, eventually making the Upper Valley her permanent home in 1985. She moved to Orford, N.H. in 1994.

In Orford, she devoted herself to her community and to those less fortunate than herself, leading, organizing and championing efforts to improve the lives of those around her, including through the Lion’s Club Kids Sight program to identify early signs of eye trouble in young children, and serving as an instrumental part of Red Stocking, a local organization devoted to bringing food, comfort and support to families that cannot afford a holiday meal.

Marion is survived by her daughter, Jacqueline Jacobus, son-in-law, Edward Carroll, and two grandsons Christopher and Daniel Carroll, all of Hanover, N.H., as well as her Sister-in-law, Catherine Townsend. She will always be remembered for her kindness to others, her dynamic sense of self-reliance, her passion for politics and for her love of her garden, her family and her friends.

A memorial in her memory will be held in her memory in late July. For information about the memorial, questions about Marion or to express condolences, please email marionjacobusmemorial@gmail.com.