Laurinda T. Crumpacker Obituary
Laurinda Mary Taylor Crumpacker was born December 13, 1941, in Farmington, Maine.
Laurie passed away peacefully at home in Gloucester, Massachusetts on August 8, 2024.
She was a beloved wife, mother, sister and grandmother and a beloved teacher of women's studies, scholar of women's history, and devoted feminist and champion for human rights.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. Clyde Crumpacker of Gloucester, whom she married on June 13, 1964; sons, Stephen and wife Corrie, Flint and wife Patricia, Murphy; grandsons, David, Owen and Sean; brothers, Flint Taylor and wife Patricia Handlin and Wally Taylor and wife Janice Reagan; nieces, Amy Starr and Kate Taylor; nephews, Lionel Starr and wife Martha, and Scott Taylor and wife Sara; several grand nieces and nephews; and her loving caregiver, Julie Anderson. Laurie's best friend was Marylou Delacy who passed away on June 12, 2024. Laurie suffered from Parkinson's disease for 14 years but never gave up fighting this devastating illness.
Laurie graduated from Westborough High School in 1959 and Simmons College in Boston in 1963. She received her Master's Degree in English Literature from Harvard University and her PhD in American Studies from Boston University. She returned to Simmons in 1978, where she served as the first Director of Women's Studies and also as a Professor of History and Chair of the History Department.
Laurie was also the Dean of Arts and Sciences at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania and also served as Dean at Wheelock and Simmons Colleges in Boston.
An outstanding scholar in Women's History, Laurie was a beloved teacher of Women's studies and a courageous developer and pioneer of this field of study.
She also wrote extensively on this subject, including The Journal of Esther Edwards Burr 1754 – 1757, and Second to None, A Documentary History of American Women. As she said in her retirement speech "If women's history did not exist, women would have to invent it. And that is the story of my life and career.".
Laurie was also an energetic and inspiring activist in the struggle for women's rights and equality and for civil rights all her life, and often joined demonstrations in support of those important issues. She wore an apt motto for her activist life on one of her tee shirts: "resistance not passivity.".
Laurie enjoyed being with her family and friends, swimming off her dock in Annisquam's Lobster Cove, sailing in Maine and around Cape Ann, gardening, and birdwatching from her Annisquam home. Laurie was a lover of music and dance, listening to classical and folk music, dancing and singing with her friends, and playing Christmas carols on her piano. She also found time to be a great cook and baker of pies.
Her sons felt that the sun rose and set on her beautiful and radiant face, and they loved when she read many stories to them. Laurie always encouraged their creative pursuits in fine art and music including Rock and Roll. Laurie had great taste for the arts, and she loved going to endless art museums with her family and traveling with her husband across the globe. She was a wonderful mother, friend, sister, aunt, and an inspiring teacher and leader whose work improved the lives of many. We shall always love her.
There will be a Memorial Service at a later date.
Please contact [email protected] to be added to a mailing list as more details are available.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Laurie's name to The Parkinson's Foundation, New York, New York; Rosie's Place, Boston Women's Shelter; or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
Arrangements by Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester, MA 01930.
