Boston Harbor Now joins our community in mourning the passing of Suzanne Gall Marsh, a pioneering force whose love for Boston Harbor became a gift to all who cherish these waters and islands.
Suzanne first stepped onto the Boston Harbor Islands in the summer of 1978, where she found both adventure and a lifelong calling. The following year, she co-founded the Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands, building a volunteer corps that would go on to transform access and stewardship of the park. What began with small gatherings of hikers, naturalists, and dreamers soon blossomed into a movement that welcomed thousands of visitors and volunteers for decades.
Her devotion ran deep. As an island manager on Gallops, she lived “ten days on and four days off” immersed in harbor life. She helped launch the first public trips to Boston Light on Little Brewster Island, weaving history and hope into each journey. Later, as a National Park Service ranger and as a teacher at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UMass Boston, Suzanne brought her knowledge and joy to generations of learners.
“Over the years, the Boston Harbor Islands have been a very important thread in my life. I have no favorite island—it’s just a pleasure to be out there and keep having new adventures.”
That thread is now part of the fabric of Boston, the Harbor Islands, and the many people touched. Suzanne’s vision and advocacy made the harbor not only accessible, but beloved. The islands became, through her efforts, places of belonging, discovery, and delight.
Suzanne’s bright light will forever shine across the waters she called home.
A Memorial Celebration of her life will be announced at a later date. Donations in her memory may be made to the Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands, c/o Boston Harbor Now, P.O. Box 96172, Boston, MA 02196, or the Hyde Park Historical Society, 35 Harvard Avenue, Hyde Park, MA 02136.
(Photo Credit: Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands)
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