Mary Lee Underhill

by Nancy Burnett

Being sedentary in retirement didn't agree with Mary Lee so she answered an advertisement in the local newspaper for volunteer coordinator at the Nesmith Library. While there one day she met Roni Hewett, who was shelving books. Roni happened to have a T-shirt on that had a picture of Searles Castle on it and the two struck up a conversation. The two became fast friends and Roni soon had Mary Lee volunteering at the Castle helping with the mailing lists and volunteers. Her abilities were noticed quickly and she was enlisted to compile an historic booklet about the history of the castle and it's inhabitants for Sister Josette and the Sisters of Mercy who maintain the Castle. "When I retired, my husband said I should enjoy doing nothing, but after about six months I knew I wanted to stay busy. I would encourage anyone that has the time, energy and talent to put it to good use and volunteer," said Mary Lee. Those words of wisdom keep her busy. She is a Volunteer Room Chairperson at Searles Castle, past Director of Volunteers at the Nesmith Library, past President of the Board of Trustees of the Library and is presently a member of the Board of Trustees at the Library.

Growing up in Newton, Massachusetts, Mary Lee fondly remembers her father whom she called the 'center of her life'. Big Band music was popular and she recalls working at Norumbega Park in Auburndale taking tickets for amusement rides. She then entered the convent and became a part of the Sisters of St. Joseph's in Boston. While there, she was part of the Campus Ministries in the 1960s, which was lead by Father Robert Bullock who just recently passed away. It was their mission to have a priest in every campus in Boston to help students deal with the Vietnam War and the counter culture issues. She went on to become the Assistant Chaplain at Brandeis University.

After leaving the convent, Mary Lee was hired as an Assistant Professor of Management at Merrimack College by her future husband, Dean Philip Lee. "He was the first Dean of Business there," she explained proudly. She also taught at Middlesex Community College. Her teaching career spanned almost 40 years. Currently, Mary Lee is a lector at St. Matthew's Church in Windham where she often assists in giving out communion.

But Mary Lee isn't all work and no play. She recently took a trip to the Italian and French Riviera with friends from Merrimack College. "It was so beautiful," she said smiling. She also opened her home to one of the Russian English teachers from Suzbal that were visiting Windham with a group of students. "We took them to the ocean in New Hampshire, ate lobster in Maine, and took them on a whirlwind tour of Boston," she recalled. "We saw the Constitution, Bunker Hill, walked the Freedom Trail, visited Quincy Market and took a ride on the swan boats. Galina [Ruzumkina] said she would never not be tired after our trip," she laughed. Driver Barbara Coish was also glad for Mary Lee's navigation skills on the return trip from Logan Airport. She is truly a 'Jill of Many Trades.'

Her friends describe Mary Lee as a warm and fun-loving woman who is so generous with her time and her heart. For fun, she spends time with family, likes to travel, attends meetings of the Red Hat Society and goes to the Salem Athletic Club to exercise with her friend Shirley Beaulieu. She is also helping to organize a 52 1/2 Newton High School Reunion. "We had so much fun at the 50th," she said, "that we decided to have another in between!"

Until then, she will be working on the long-term plans for the Nesmith Library as a member of the Board of Trustees. "It is good business to plan at least a decade ahead for future expansion," she said. If you want to learn more about the history of Searles Castle, the booklet Mary Lee penned can be purchased at the Searles Castle bookstore, Windham Town Hall (or from Mary Lee's trunk if you happen to catch her around town). All of the proceeds go to the maintenance and restoration of the Castle.