Marion Stoddart

Marion Stoddart was born to Atlee and Ruth Jackson on May 26, 1928, in Reno, Nevada. She is an activist and community leader best known for her work in cleaning and restoring the Nashua River in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Since she and her husband Hugh Franklin Stoddart moved to Groton in 1962, she has mobilized the community to promote many environmental causes.  

In this interview, Marion talked about how she brought people, legislation, and organizations from surrounding towns together to improve water quality and protect water and land along the Nashua River. The League of Women Voters and tennis tournaments played important roles in this initiative. Marion recounted her meetings with Rosemary Forbes Kerry, Andre C. Reggio, William Pickman Wharton, Emile Benton MacKaye, Barbara Deering Danielson, Marion Danielson Campbell, Donald Crocker, Devens military commanders, and many more.

At the age of 93, she continues to promote land and water protection and stay active in climate change education causes.