Marcia Walsh Colligan

Marcia Walsh Colligan

Hanover, NH - Marcia Walsh Colligan, pioneering professional woman, President Emeritus and Co-Founder of 501c3 nonprofit Classicopia Chamber Music organization, and matriarch of her loving family died at the age of 93 at Riverwoods Durham on January 7 of natural causes.

Born in Troy, NY, the third daughter of Dr. Francis Kyran Walsh and Catherine Elizabeth Boland. Marcia was a person of courage, integrity, and compassion. She was known for her independent spirit, New England Yankee thrift, high intelligence, and sharp wit.

Marcia graduated in 1952 from SUNY Albany with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. In 1992, Marcia was honored by her alma mater receiving the Distinguished Outstanding Alumna award.

Marcia raised six children. In the last years of her beloved husband's lengthy illness and death, she secured full time work at Dartmouth College. To advance her career she went back to earn her Master of Arts and Liberal Studies (MALS) at Dartmouth College. Marcia was the Class Marshall for the first MALS Class Commencement ceremony in 1976. Marcia earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 1985 at the University of New Hampshire.

Marcia worked for Dartmouth College for 28 years in the Administrative Services Office specializing in Risk and Liability Insurance management. During her Dartmouth career, Marcia was typically the only professional woman in meetings, surrounded by men. Marcia's professional skills, and high emotional intelligence characterized her career blazing new trails for professional women in the male dominated world of the 1970s and beyond.

Marcia was active in her community and her civic contributions included serving as a Substitute Teacher in the Hanover public schools, the St Denis Parish Council, the Hanover Youth Hockey organization, the Town of Hanover Finance Committee, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Regional Board of Trustees, the Mary Hitchcock Assembly of Overseers later named Partners for Community Wellness.

In 1988, following a US Supreme Court decision, Marcia became one of the first three women inducted into the formerly for 63 years all-male, Hanover Rotary Club. On this "First" when the Valley News reporter asked Marcia about her achievement she quipped "I broke the sound barrier."

In 2001, after retiring from her Dartmouth College career, Marcia Co-founded the 501c3 nonprofit Classicopia Chamber Music organization. As President for the next 20 years, she managed Classicopia's business activities, finances and fund raising, impressively ending every year with a capital surplus. During her tenure, Classicopia hosted more than eighty-two musicians in ninety-five different venues performing 915 concerts. When she retired from her Classicopia career in 2021, the now Emeritus Classicopia President told the Valley News Reporter, "I just wanted to play Chopin, that's how all of this started".

Marcia is survived by daughters Susan (Ross) Perry of Stow, MA; Catherine (Greg) Yates of Madison, CT; Julia (Tom) Luteran of Hollis, NH; and her sons John (Lacey) Colligan of Concord, NH; Paul (Kim) Colligan of Phoenix, NY; Patrick (Ania) Colligan of Fairfield, CT; 18 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Marcia is survived by her loving sister Catherine Casabonne of Troy, NY.

Marcia is preceded in death by her loving husband, Thayer School of Engineering Professor George Austin Colligan, by her granddaughter Austin Bradley Colligan, by her parents Catherine and Francis, and by her sisters Betty Kay Drislane and Nancy Leonard.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday, April 4, at 11am at St. Denis Roman Catholic Church, Hanover, NH.

For those who wish, memorial donations in Marcia's name can go to Classicopia care of Daniel Weiser, 509 Maupas Avenue, Savannah GA 31401.

Assisting the family with arrangements is Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home in Newmarket, NH.