Constance Strong Garbutt, 96
Constance Strong Garbutt, known to all as Connie, passed away September 31, 2023 at the age of 96. A life long resident of Massachusetts, she had relocated to Maryland to be closer to her nieces
Connie was born at Strong Hospital in Boston on June 18, 1927 to Andrew H. and Ruth Strong Garbutt. She had one brother, Andrew S Garbutt. She was raised in Holliston, MA, and graduated from Walnut Hill School in Natick in 1945. She attended The University of New Hampshire and graduated in 1949 with a B.S. degree in Social Service.
She worked for the State Department of Public Health serving in many different capacities. At one point She was appointed interim Director of the Solomon Mental Health Center in Lowell after the forced resignation of its director. In 1983 She was appointed Assistant Professor of Psychiatry in Community Health through Tufts University.
In 1984 She was able to retire at the age of 57 to pursue her great loves, traveling, nature, and friends. Connie maintained a home in Onset and volunteered at the Wareham Senior Center and enjoyed yoga at the Bourne Senior Center. Most photographs of Connie after 1984 had a mountain, a lake, a glacier or a kayak in the shot. Also present were her many traveling companions, especially Dot Emerson, who Connie met at the Eagle Lake Girl Scout Camp when she was a 17-year-old councilor. They traveled to all parts of the world together for the next 70 years.
Her trips are too numerous to mention; Six driving trips to Alaska, plus New Zealand, St. John, Grand Canyon, Austria, Belize, Yellowstone, Hiking all 4000 foot mountains in NH, and always the Rockys. Her last international trip was to Iceland at the age of 89. Her last couple of years forced her to stay a little closer to home and family in MD, but she loved her New England Patriots and was surrounded by friends, nieces and nephews as well as grand and great grand nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Life will be held October 21st on the beach, at the end of 20th Street. All those with fond memories of Connie please join us at 11:30.
Contributions may be made in her memory to:
Friends of Eagle Lake, Inc. P.O. Box 245 Livingston, NJ
Event Date
