Houghton Surname Project

Theodora Hamson

F, #112471, b. circa 1921, d. 5 December 2016

Family: Clifford Haughton

Marriage*: Theodora Hamson married Clifford Haughton.

Biography

A Contributor to Houghton Surname Project

Corresponded with author

Birth

circa 1921

MA, USA

Marriage

Death

Dec 5, 2016

Westfield, MA, USA

Obituary

May 9, 2017

Theodora (Teddy) Haughton passed away on December 5, 2016 at age 96 in Westfield, MA. She was the daughter of Mabel Churchill and Lewis E. Hamson of Marblehead MA, a town to which she had a deep connection because of her love of the ocean and her interesting Marblehead ancestors, including Captain George Barker who skippered trade ships to the Far East in the 1800s. Teddy attended schools in Arlington and Marblehead, MA, and later received her B.A. in journalism from Boston University, followed by a Masters of Education twenty years later from BU also. As a life-long learner, Teddy inspired intellectual curiosity in hundreds of elementary school children whom she taught over 25 years in Holderness, NH and Marblehead and Beverly, MA. Teddy was pre-deceased by her husband, Clifford (Cliff) Haughton in 1970 and she is survived by son Dr. Dennis Haughton (and fiance Debbie) of Cave Creek, AZ, daughter Peggy MacLeod of Florence, MA, her favorite (only) grandson Todd Haughton (and wife Stephanie) of Phoenix, AZ, a niece and nephew Dorothy and John Berndt of California, and nephew David Jones of Arizona. Teddys friends, former pupils, and family will remember a legacy based in her political activism for world peace, civil rights, ending hunger and poverty, safe gun measures, refugee resettlement, and championing equality among people of all races, beliefs, orientations, and nationalities. As an example of what one person can accomplish towards making significant change, she wrote hundreds of letters and emails asking elected officials to promote laws that benefitted society as a whole. As a 50-year member of the Clifton Lutheran Church of Marblehead MA (her other family), Teddy often spoke out about her causes and talked constantly about the need for all cultures and belief systems to make peace with one another. Church members remember Teddy helping them write letters of encouragement to numerous prisoners of conscience for Amnesty International, letting governments know that these prisoners are not being forgotten. In addition to Marblehead, MA, a generational home since the 1800s, Center Sandwich, NH was Cliff and Teddys home and where Teddy spent 38 summers gardening organically in her front yard, and making life-long friends. She acquired a shoebox full of winning ribbons for her vegetables, flowers, jams, and fruit entered in the Sandwich Fair. Other interests included a wide range of non-fiction, Scottish, Native American, and Marblehead history, family board games, engaging in thoughtful discussions, Dixieland jazz and classical music, and many museums. Due to her strong interest in cultures, languages, ancestry research, and art, Teddy embarked on many summer adventures all over Europe, Mexico, the US, and Canada and brought back cultural knowledge and languages to be shared with her children and her pupils. Not surprisingly, her children and grandson inherit her love of travel and appreciation of art, music, and culture. The family would like to thank the staff at Armbrook Village, friend Gale Turner, and Pastor Lauren Holm for helping Teddy enjoy recent years after losing independence. Many knew Teddy for her quick sense of humor and spunky comments to all, and for living a life that was a spirited dance. A memorial for Teddy will be woven into the Sunday worship service at 10 a.m. May 21st at Clifton Lutheran Church, 150 Humphrey Street, Marblehead, MA, with coffee and refreshments to follow.
Published in The Marblehead Reporter from May 9 to May 16, 2017 -¹