MARY "MOLLY" HARDING NYE
Molly Harding Nye passed away on December 1, surrounded by the loving family she created:
her husband of 63 years, Joe; three sons John, Ben and Dan with their wives, Kathy, Jenny and
Meagan; and nine grandchildren. She was the perfect matriarch.
Molly was also deeply involved in her communities as a ceramics artist and an active volunteer
in Lexington and Boston. She created and owned Gallery on the Green, a notable addition to
the center of Lexington. She chaired the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society twice; was a member
of the Lexington Historical Society, as well as the Garden Club. She served on the Historic
District Commission, was on many committees in First Parish Church over 59 years, and
volunteered at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. She was also an elected member of the
Lexington Town Meeting. Molly lived in an historic house on the Lexington Battle Green before
moving to Brookhaven at Lexington where she was active in many groups and surrounded by
many friends.
She was a citizen of the world, and lived in Kampala, Uganda, Guatemala, Geneva, France,
London, Oxford and travelled to more than 60 countries. While living in Washington with her
husband, she was a docent at the Corcoran Museum of Art.
Born in Summit, NJ, Molly attended Kent Place School before graduating with the class of 1961
at Wells College in upstate New York where her family had deep roots. She spent childhood
summers with her four siblings at her family's beloved Harding Farm in Clinton, NY. For the past
three decades she spent time at her own farm in Sandwich, NH where she practiced her
ceramics, worked in her flower garden, was a member of the Historical Society and the League
of New Hampshire Craftsmen. She was an avid and talented golfer and spent many hours
playing at the Bald Peak Colony Club.
Molly was at home with family, in art, in nature, in conversation with foreign dignitaries and with
friends all over the world. If she were sent to Mars, she would soon make friends with any
Martians. She was a "people person" who exuded a "joie de vivre" as well as concern for others.
Molly drew people in; everyone wanted to be near her infectious, positive energy. Generations
of extended family felt they had a unique bond with her; she had an innate curiosity about
people and their stories, and went out of her way to welcome everyone into her home.
A celebration of her life will take place at First Parish, Lexington on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to LexArt, the Lexington Arts and Crafts
Society (LexArt, 130 Waltham St. Lexington, MA 02421).