Constance "Connie" Towler

1935 - 2024

Constance "Connie" Towler

Greenfield, MA - Constance (Fassell) Towler, passed away peacefully on April 30th after a brief illness. At the time of her passing, Connie had been residing at Regal Manor in Greenfield, MA. She was born in Adams, MA on February 4, 1935, the daughter of Earle and Gladys (Palmer) Fassell. She was predeceased by her brother Anthony E. Fassell in 2021.

Connie graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1953. Upon graduation, she began her career at General Electric in Pittsfield. Connie married her husband Joseph C. Towler, Jr. on February 17, 1962. They then relocated to Boston where Connie was employed at Boston Publishing and MIT. In 1966, Connie began her 30 year career at Harvard University. During her tenure at Harvard, Connie held several positions, including Assistant to the Vice-President for Administration, Manager of the Technology Product Center and Associate Director of Human Resources. In 1990, Connie was asked to lead Harvard's first Quality Improvement Process initiative. As one of the pioneers in the field of Quality Improvement, Connie was a frequent speaker at seminars and workshops. A life-long learner, in 1992 Connie received her Master's Degree in Education from Cambridge College.

Connie and Joe enjoyed a wide circle of friends. They loved to entertain, especially at holiday time. At Christmas the family would gather in Watertown, and later in Greenfield, opening presents, singing show tunes and hoisting glasses of holiday cheer. Both Connie and Joe were avid readers, and their house was filled to the brim with books and magazines These included Connie's collection of cookbooks, she being a talented cook. Scrabble, cards, Trivial Pursuit were also favorite pastimes.

After the move to Greenfield they took on the task of renovating their large Victorian home on High Street. Connie became an active participant in several town organizations, including Friends of the Greenfield Public Library, of which she was a board member, and The Historical Society of Greenfield. Connie and Joe were communicants of the Holy Trinity Church.

Connie was predeceased by her husband Joe in 2011.

Connie is survived by her stepchildren, Deborah Brooks (Don Feldman), Michael Towler (Jennifer), Allyson Grayman (Stephen), David Towler, and daughter-in-law, Nancy Towler; her niece, Michelle Fassell Cook (Tim); eight grandchildren, Grace and Charlotte Towler, Jesse (Dezant), Ethan, Samuel and Jacob Grayman, Nathan Towler (Andrea) and Mae Star Salinsky (Matthew); two great-nephews Jamie Cook and Noah Cook; and six great-grandchildren Sequoia and Kestrel Salinsky, Eli and Caleb Grayman and Cecelia and Joseph Towler.

Heartfelt thanks to David and Nina for the love and companionship they provided Connie over the past year, and to Nina for staying by Connie's bedside during her final hours.

Burial will be held at Bellevue Cemetery, Adams, Massachusetts on Saturday, May 25 at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Friends of the Greenfield Public Library, 402 Main St, Greenfield, MA 01301 or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Kostanski Funeral Home. For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.