Dr. Marcia Makris

PORTSMOUTH - Dr. Marcia Makris, 77, of Portsmouth, N.H., Small Point, Maine, and Tarpon Springs, Fla., passed from this life on Saturday, June 3, 2017, after a brief battle with cancer. Marcia was born on January 20, 1940, in Nashua, N.H. to Virginia (Vantine) Makris and James Makris.

She graduated from Nashua High School and went on to receive her BA in English, MA in English Literature and a doctorate in Education from the University of New Hampshire. Marcia was a passionate educator and throughout her life was active in all aspects of the continuum of learning in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. She capped her career as an associate professor of Education at Bates College in Lewiston Maine, chairing the Education Department.

Her interests encompassed a love of music, the arts and opera; she was a competitive scrabble and card enthusiast. She was always involved in jewelry craft and her creations are being worn by friends, family and everyone who appreciated her work over many decades. She was always an avid gardener and even took her zest for learning to become a sheep farmer.

Marcia loved sharing her knowledge and wisdom which was tethered to her belief in the strength and courage of women. She was driven to make lives better for all and in retirement utilized her educational skills as a volunteer at the Leeper Rattnar Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs, Fla., where she made her winter home. Always embracing the next opportunity for learning Marcia loved to travel with the love of her life Charles DeGrandpre. Winters in Florida and summers, both on the coast of New Hampshire and Maine allowed her to enjoy the time by the ocean which she loved. It also allowed special memories with her daughter and her family and she warmly shared the things she loved with everyone.

Marcia will always be remembered for her tenacity to get things done, her love of life and the pursuit of learning for all and her never ending love for her family and friends. She was a confident woman who lived her life full.

Marcia is survived by her husband, Charles DeGrandpre of Portsmouth, N.H., her daughter and son-in-law, Susan (Merrick) and Michael Niemi of Merrimack, N.H., granddaughters, Hannah and Rachel Niemi of Manchester, N.H.; her brother and sister-in-law, Jonathan and Rebecca Makris of Epping, N.H.; her stepmother, Mary Makris of Maryland and brothers, Christopher Makris of Maryland and Gregory Makris of California. Marcia embraced Charlie's children and grandchildren and made them part of her extensive family which includes many nephews, nieces and cousins.

She was predeceased by her parents; brother, James Makris and sister, Gail (Ackroyd) Makris.

SERVICES: Celebration of life gatherings will be July 2 in Small Point, Maine; August 13 in Portsmouth, N.H.; and this Fall in Tarpon Springs, Fla.

Donations may be made in her memory to the Leeper Rattnar Museum, PO Box 13489, St. Petersburg, FL 33733