Veronica Morgan Obituary
Veronica Morgan, of Gloucester, MA, passed away peacefully on May 13, 2023, at the Sawtelle Hospice House in Reading, MA.
Veronica was born on July 29, 1938, in Springfield, MA to William and Rhea Morgan. She was an artist from her earliest days, creating an elaborate doll house out of three orange crates and furnishing it with handcrafted miniature appliances and furniture. A highly skilled draftsman and painter, Veronica graduated with a BFA from Tufts University, Medford, MA and a Diploma with Distinction in Commercial Art & Interior Design, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA.
Veronica's career as a space planner and interior designer ranged from work with major hotel corporations and financial firms, to designing the Dunkin Donuts Corporation Headquarters in Randolph, MA; dormitories at Harvard University, several major medical facilities; as well as the wardrooms of US Carriers Wasp, Essex and Lake Champlain.
A life-long interest in the preservation and restoration of historic architecture led to Veronica's ownership of several unique properties, including an 1895 Firehouse in Newburyport, MA, the 1740 9-room Colonial: The Countess' House, Rocks Village, Haverhill, with original Rufus Porter murals, as well as several other properties in Massachusetts. A lot of the actual restoration work she did herself. Nothing was more fun for her than getting down to the bare bones of a building to understand its construction. Her sisters teased her about her slide shows of construction in progress.
Veronica spent many years in Sarasota, FL, where she was a key figure in historical preservation. Her award-winning projects there included Florida Avenue Studios: 3 1940-era industrial buildings recycled as workspace for artists. The Luke Wood House: Wood frame 1882 pioneer dwelling, relocated, restored for office use. Crocker Church: 1890 era meeting house, relocated, restored, used for public assembly.
In addition to her preservation work, Veronica was also a gifted watercolor painter and multi-media artist. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends in Massachusetts and Florida.
Veronica is survived by her brother, William Morgan of Georgia, her sisters, Martha Lindsay of Gloucester, MA and Linda Coan of Ipswich, MA, niece, Lisa Abitbol and her husband Christian Pierce of Lexington, MA, nephew, Ian Lindsay of Gloucester, and grand-nephew, Kai Pierce, of Lexington.
According to her wishes there will be no funeral services. Donations in her memory may be made to: Manship Artists Residency, MARS | PO Box 7071 | Gloucester, MA 01930 or The Historical Society of Sarasota County, HSoSC, PO Box 1632, Sarasota, FL 34230. Arrangements are by the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington St. Gloucester, MA.
