Eleanor Mackinder
Dateline: Norton, MA
Eleanor (Motz) Mackinder, daughter of the late Leonard and Anna Motz, passed away on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. She was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Massachusetts in 1970. She resided in Norton for the past 47 years and was a member of St. Mary’s Church.
She is survived by her brother, Joseph, her son Michael; her daughter and son-in-law Lara and Ken Bekampis and their sons, Jack and Joseph, as well as many dear cousins and friends, each of whom brought happiness, joy, and meaning to her life.
She earned her high school diploma and bachelor’s degree in Pennsylvania and a Master of Education degree at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts.
She had a life-long dedication to the teaching profession including service in Montgomery County, MD, Weston, MA, and Norton, MA public schools. Her career spanned virtually every grade level, extending to becoming an adjunct faculty member at Bridgewater State after her retirement.
Politics and civic activities were always her passion. Years ago, while a stay-at-home mom, she was active in her local League of Women Voters. As a parent of young children, she was involved in Project SPOKE and Together We Can in Norton, programs which encouraged parents to provide constructive activities for their children.
She had a long-standing affiliation with the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum. Her admiration for JFK’s presidency inspired her to become a docent there. Hours spent guiding tours, attending forums and workshops, and participating in special events brought her a sense of fulfillment and purpose. Over several summers she took courses at JFK while earning graduate credits from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
During her teaching years, she was active in this National Teachers Association and its state and local affiliates. After retiring she was proud to have served as a member of the Norton Tricentennial Planning Committee, and in recent years was a poll worker on election days.
With her friends she appreciated and enjoyed many opportunities to attend orchestral, theatrical, and dance performances in Boston, Providence, and the Berkshire Mountains. She felt grateful that the talents of the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Barbara Streisand, Sammy Davis, Jr., Tony Bennett and Josh Groban provided background music during her life.
She felt fortunate to have traveled to several countries in Europe. Mountains always brought her special pleasure, so visits to Yosemite National Park, the Grand Canyon and a train excursion through the Canadian Rockies were among her favorite travels; so too was exploring cultures during memorable trips to Cuba and Russia.
Eleanor was an impassioned, lifelong democrat. Her children welcome donations given in her name to the campaign of the Democratic nominee for President. Please send no flowers. Instead gather some from your yard or purchase some from a local grocery store or florist and treat yourself, a relative, or a dear friend to the pleasure of their fragrance and beauty.
A service and celebration of Eleanor’s life will be held at a later date and place, to be announced. Visiting hours have been omitted.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Norton Memorial Funeral Home, 19 Clapp St, Norton.
To send her family a message of condolence, please visit www.nortonmemorial.com
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