Marjorie “Marnie” Green Heyniger died peacefully on September 1, 2015 at Mystic Healthcare, ending an exuberant gallop through nearly a century of life. Marnie met the world head on with the confidence of an athlete and the zeal of an adventurer, bringing family and many friends along for the ride.
The arc of her long life carried her from the bustling hat industry of Danbury, through equestrian competitions in Virginia horse country, to golf club championships and an active waterfront lifestyle in Mystic where she and husband, Bill, raised their five children.
She was born November 9, 1916 to Marjorie von Gal and Edwin Hall Green in Danbury, where in 1879 her father’s family established a successful hat manufacturing business, the John W. Green & Sons. Her grandfather helped introduce the popular derby hat contributing to the Green family success.
Her formal schooling took her to Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia where she pursued her equestrian passions, teaching riding and competing in jumping. Marnie stayed true to her competitive nature throughout her life. She won the club championship at Pequot Golf Course and possessed a game that stayed steady well into her later years. Marnie could play golf in a dense fog and not lose her ball ~ she hit it dead straight just about every time. Marnie also played an enthusiastic game of bridge and as a member of the Mason’s Island Yacht Club and Ram Island Yacht Club enjoyed bocce and sailing with friends and family.
Feisty and outspoken, Marnie was always willing to listen to the problems of others and then would offer her opinion with a “Listen, dearie…” An avid gardener, piano player and tireless volunteer, Marnie was active in a number of civic events and enjoyed socializing with dinner parties at the Heyniger home.
She met William “Bill” Sinclair Heyniger III on a blind date ant the two were married 48 years before his death in 1989. She is survived by her children, John Green Heyniger and wife, Sophia McKee Heyniger, Edward “Ted” von Gal Heyniger and Marjorie “Heidi” Annette Heyniger and her partner Kathleen “Kit” Bryan, grandchildren, Sean Green Heyniger and wife, Ashly Simpson, John McKee Heyniger, William Sinclair Heyniger V and fiancée Marianna Said, great-grandchildren Sean Briggs Heyniger, Bree Elle Heyniger and Hayden Heyniger. She is also survived by her sister, Kay Spiers of California.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by sons William Sinclair Heyniger IV and Eric Evans Heyniger and his wife Ellen.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marnie’s name to the Mystic Arts Center and Mystic-Noank Library.
A memorial will be planned at a later date.
To share a message of condolence or remembrance with her family, please click the link below.