Stephen R. Morse

Stephen R. Morse died Sunday, November 7, 2010 at his home surrounded by his family. He was 76 years old and succumbed after a long struggle with cancer. A well-known domestic relations attorney in the Boston area, he practiced for nearly fifty years and served multiple terms as a representative to the Brookline Town Meeting from Precinct 1. Always socially conscious, principled, and public spirited, he was active in Boston-area politics for nearly five decades, with special emphasis on issues of racial and gender equity, fair housing, and educational access. He served at various times the Commission on Law and Social Action of the American Jewish Congress, the Brookline Democratic Town Committee, Temple Israels Social Action Committee, the Westwood, (Massachusetts) Committee on Human Rights, the Friends of Halls Pond, the Brookline Arts Center Advisory Committee, and many local political campaigns. A graduate of Newton High School, Bowdoin College, and Columbia University Law School, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve Field Artillery as a Lieutenant. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Deanne (Williams) of Brookline; his son Peter J. Morse and his wife Cristina and their children Owen and Charlotte, of Annapolis, Maryland; his daughter Kathryn T. Morse of Weybridge, Vermont; his sister Janet Morse Fox of Brookline; and many relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his daughter Stephanie E. Morse of Brookline. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, November 26 at 3:00 pm at Temple Israel, 477 Longwood Avenue, Boston. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Steps To Success of Brookline, 19 Kennard Road, Brookline, MA 02445, a comprehensive school for success and a college readiness program serving low income youth in the Brookline Public Schools.