Ian Ward Graham

IPSWICH – Mr. Ian Ward Graham 77, of Turner Hill, Ipswich, beloved husband of Mary Margaret (Harris) Graham, died November 13th, 2025 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston following a valiant battle with leukemia.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, he was the son of the late John Rae and Stella Marjorie (Ward) Graham. He was raised and educated in Bearsden Scotland attending Bearsden Primary School, Bearsden Academy and continued his education with college accounting qualifications.

As a young man he excelled as a member of the Boys brigade achieving their highest rank in every qualification, including sport. This love of sport, particularly golf, was instilled at young age by his father. Ian would practice endless hours on his golf game. His commitment to practice, would consistently allow him to achieve a low score, much to the dismay of his golf partners. The game of golf would be a refuge of friends and camaraderie as well as business connections throughout his life.

At 23 years of age, Ian set out to conquer the world. Full of pride, determination and a diligent work ethic, Ian began his career working on the Copperbelt in Zambia on the continent of Africa. During his tenure, it was on the golf course, where he made the decision to join Colgate -Palmolive’s corporate headquarters and moved to New York.

Not long after joining the company, the directors sent Ian around the world, as an auditor, seeking a ‘snake in the woodpile’ who was potentially embezzling funds from the company. After successfully achieving this mission and showing his honest nature and dedication to the company, he was appointed Finance Director of the Indian subsidiary of Colgate in Bombay, India. The night before Ian’s arrival in India, the general manager of Colgate at the time died in a swimming accident and Ian became acting general manager and finance director. It would also be in India that he would find the true love of his life Mary Margaret Harris, a United States Consular officer to India for the United States Government. He saw her at a gathering and quickly approached her and invited her to the Caledonian Ball in the Taj Hotel. Mary Margaret didn’t realize in her acceptance, that it required both she and Ian to practice Scottish Country dancing since Ian was Chieftain of the Caledonian Society. They have been at each other’s side and the best of dance partners ever since.

Their union has brought Ian into the large Irish clans of the Harris and Thornton families. With family reach far and wide, from the north of Portland, Maine all the way to Texas and beyond, Ian truly was beloved by his new Irish American family. Upon returning to the United States, they moved to Westport, Conn and he subsequently was offered the opportunity to be appointed as the Finance Director of Colgate in Spain, with offices in Madrid. At the same time, Mary Margaret took a position with the United States Embassy in Madrid, where they resided for four wonderful years from 1983 until 1987. What followed was a return to the United States and the corporate offices in New York, where he transitioned into the role of Vice Chair of Finance for the Latin American Division of Colgate, a position he held until the time of his retirement in 2004. At the same time Mary Margaret continued with her career in Washington DC.

In retirement, Ian and Mary Margaret moved to Ipswich, built their forever home at Turner Hill, where Ian was in Golf Heaven for the rest of his life. Ian and Mary Margaret have also been active members at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Topsfield. They were a great team supporting each other through their respective professions, all the while traveling and enjoying time with family and friends. Ian had a wonderful life of connections, experiences and most importantly love, and tons of golf.

Ian is survived by his wife, Mary Margaret (Harris) Graham, former Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Collection, his sister, Linda Graham McCarthy and her husband, Peter of South Wales, several nieces and nephews, his brothers and sisters-in-law, Ned and Barbara Harris of Chesterfield, Missouri and Tom and Ellen Harris of Ft. Worth, Texas. He was the brother of the late Alan Graham and brother-in-law of the late John Thornton Harris.

ARRANGEMENTS: Visiting hours will be held at O’Donnell Cremations - Funerals – Celebrations, 167 Maple St., (rte 62) DANVERS, on Friday, Nov. 21st from 4 to 6 P.M. His funeral Mass will be held at St. Rose of Lima Parish, 12 Park St., Topsfield on Saturday November 22nd at 10:30 A.M. The funeral Mass will be live streamed at www.agnesandrose.org. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ian’s memory to St. Rose of Lima Parish, C/O 17 Prospect St., Topsfield, MA 01983. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com