From the town’s longest-consecutively serving Select Board member to the creator of the iconic golden cods adorning local homes, several influential community leaders passed away this year after dedicating their lives to bettering the town through civic service, leadership and philanthropic endeavors.
These obituaries, a sampling of many published in the Marblehead Current, offer an opportunity to remember headers who shared a common endeavor: A profound commitment to bettering Marblehead.
David Cameron, 57, was a lifelong Marblehead resident who worked over 20 years serving the public in the town’s Water and Sewer and Tree departments. He passed away on Jan. 21 after a battle with cancer.
Teacher and coach F. Parker Caswell passed away peacefully on Feb. 4 at age 91. Caswell spent 35 dedicated years as a math teacher at Marblehead High School. The 1950 MHS graduate also coached football, baseball and basketball at his alma mater.
On Feb. 26, Amy R. Saltz died at age 62 after surviving a suicide attempt in her youth and devoting her life to healing work. The published author counseled clients and volunteered extensively, including at Marblehead Counseling Center, Anchor to Windward, Marblehead AIDS Awareness and Abbot Public Library.
On April 3, Sylvia Swain passed away at age 88. Swain made history as Marblehead Rotary’s first female president and Paul Harris Fellow. She also served as chair of the Mary Alley Hospital board of trustees and later directed health services at Lafayette Convalescent Home.
Raymond C. Abbott, 93, creator of the iconic Marblehead golden codfish carvings, died April 20. Alongside his wife Jean, Abbott hand-carved and gold-leafed the codfish synonymous with Marblehead’s fishing history.
Philanthropist and businessman Arthur Joseph Epstein died May 21 at age 86 after residing in Marblehead for 50 years. Epstein’s $5 million donation renamed Cohen Hillel Academy to Arthur J. Epstein Hillel School. He also contributed $5 million to Salem Hospital, the largest gift in its history, benefitting mental health services.
Longtime public servant Rufus Leonard Titus Jr., 89, passed away on May 31. Titus served the community through various roles, including his time on the Board of Assessors, as past president of the Marblehead Visiting Nurses Association, a director of Marblehead Saving Bank and an elected member of the Cemetery Commission. He also worked as a crossing guard and owned the popular guest house Golden Cod for over 30 years.
Arnold W. Alexander, 92, passed away on Sept. 19. He served on the Select Board for 23 terms from 1969-1992, frequently as its chair for the most consecutive terms in town history. He was the longest consecutively serving Selectman in the history of Marblehead since 1648. He was also the past director of the JCC, former director of the Lone Tree Council for the Boy Scouts of America, chair of the Tower School Board of Trustees. He was also named the Chamber of Commerce’s Man of the Year.
Karl A. Johnston, 80, was a longtime local builder and owner of KA Johnson Builders for over 50 years. He passed away on Nov. 5. Johnston specialized in remodeling Marblehead’s historic houses over his career. He served as an elected official on Marblehead’s Planning Board and Municipal Light Commission.
On Nov. 6, retired Sgt. Det. Glover “Peter” Preble Jr. died at age 89 after serving for many years in the Marblehead Police Department. Preble also owned Salem Harley Davidson for over 25 years and worked various local jobs following his decades of law enforcement.
Lee Bartlett Weed, 83, former general manager of the Mary Alley Walk-In Center for 25 years, died Nov. 15. Lee took tremendous pride in her hometown of Marblehead and loved to be in “service to others.” She was a long-serving vestry member, as well as a senior warden at St. Michael’s Church. She was also a long-serving member, director and director emeritus of The Marblehead Female Humane Society, and a founding member and officer of the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor. She and her husband Barry took special pride in organizing the Holiday Pops for many years.
On Nov. 25, longtime psychiatrist and activist Jack Weltner died at age 89. He founded Marblehead Community Counseling Center and contributed to progressive causes. The Unitarian Universalist Church member also provided free healthcare services through Lynn Community Health Center for decades.
