Margaret Hinckley Wise

Margaret Hinckley Wise

July 28, 1929 - December 28, 2025

Margaret Hinckley Wise died on December 28, 2025. Her family had been with her for the holidays, including her grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Her last days over Thanksgiving and Christmas were so special to her.

Born July 28, 1929 in Mount Kisco hospital, she grew up on Bedford Hills, New York. In 1940 the family moved to Virginia with the anticipation of war.. A graduate from the Foxcroft school in 1947 and Smith Collage in 1951, she went work to in the Eisenhower administration.

At a family wedding she met the love of her life, John Hamilton Wise, and married April 27 1957.

Upon his retirement from the Navy, they moved to Boston. There she flourished. A "Grey lady", part of the American Red Cross during the Vietnam war. She was also the Vincent Club president, following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Margaret Pope Hinckley, a founder of the organization along with her aunt Peggy Hinckley Parker and step aunt Eleanor McClurg Hunnewell.

As an actor, she was often the co-lead in multiple plays, working with such legendaries as Tommy Tune and Twiggy. Preformed for five days a season at the John Hancock Building, this was a show not to be missed.

The Vincent Club supported the Vincent Memorial Hospital which focused on women's health and has since been absorbed into Mass General.

After the death of her youngest daughter, Margaret worked tirelessly to improve all the paperwork necessary for parents with children with cancer. She received a chair from Dana Farber for her work. For years she religiously donated platelets and blood for other children.

In 1967, John and Margaret bought one half of a two-building inn known as "The Lodges" built 1898. There was never a day when she didn't come down with her carpenter's apron as they renovated the structure. "Big John" concentrated on the outside, but Margaret continued with the interior livability.

In the late 70's, the other half of the "Lodges" was a boarding house for those " orphans" who worked on the "neck" for summer jobs. Margaret started Tuesday night Lasagna dinners for the boys next door, one to feed, but also to keep a pulse of what was going on in Prouts.

For many years she also made the Fourth of July Chowder using Charlie Homer's recipe. It was a big team to make this happen.

Regardless of the community, she committed herself to make it better, including working at the Fauquier Free Clinic in Warrenton, VA. In the late 1990's they decided to join a residential community known as Piper Shores in Scarborough, ME. They bought a lovely two bedroom cottage. Because of frequent Maine winter storms, she was instrumental in demanding and developing generators for all these structures.

She was an active member of the Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill, MA, Leeds Parish in Markham, VA and St. Alban's in Cape Elizabeth, ME.

She is survived by her daughters, Margaret Douglas Wise and Katherine Pharibe Wise, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and her brother, Albert P. Hinckley, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Fauquier Free Clinic.