Mary Thornton Martin Brink, a longtime resident of Winchester, died on November 26, 2014, having just celebrated her 96th birthday. Mary was born in Shelbina, MO, and spent her growing up years with her parents, Jean and Rob Martin and sister, Dory, in Buffalo, NY.
When Mary was just 15 she met her motorcycle-riding husband-to-be, Gunner Brink. They married after her graduation from Buffalo State Teachers College and were married for almost 65 years. They welcomed five children, Mike, Carol, Dan, Rick, and Bill. After the war Gunner was hired as a pilot for Eastern Air Lines and the family moved to Winchester, MA in 1952.
Though much of the parenting fell to her while Gunner was flying Mary still found time to participate in town affairs. She was a Town Meeting member for 25 years, chaired the School Committee for a term, and was a member of the En Ka Society. The family was active at the First Congregational Church where Mary was the first woman elected to the Board of Deacons. Mary was an expert knitter, specializing in fisherman-knit and baby sweaters. She made Christmas special: filling stockings to the brim, baking bread and making dozens of cookies. She sent birthday cards, often with a check enclosed, and newsy letters to those away from home. The family spent summers at their cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee where Mary was a member of the Loon Preservation Society. She loved her daughters-in-law as her own and each grandchild felt her loving embrace. She read Make Way for Ducklings, played board games, and made Scotcheroos. After Gunner’s retirement the couple spent winter months in Lake Wales, FL, where Mary volunteered in an after school program for kids. But Winchester was always home. It was there that she cared for her husband until his death in 2005.
Mary leaves her extended family: Mike and Janet Brink of Orleans, MA; Carol Brink of Plainville, MA; Dan and Janice Brink of Windham, NH; Rick and Linda Brink of Londonderry, NH; Bill and Becky Brink of Sanford, ME; grandchildren: Scott Brink of Andover, MA; Laura Pisinski of Arlington, MA; Tim Brink of Windham, NH; Jeff Brink of Laurens, SC; Audra Byram of Berwick, ME; Jennifer McBride and Trisha Brink both of Portland, ME; Daniel Brink of Sanford, ME; as well as great-grandchildren: Caroline, Katherine, Tyler, Delaney, Hannah, Dylan, Will, Camilla, Benjamin, and Nolan.
Visiting Hours will be held in the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester on Friday, December 5, from 4:00 – 8:00 PM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. A Memorial Service for Mary will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 6 at the First Congregational Church of Winchester, 21 Church St. (on the Common).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Children’s Room of the Winchester Public Library, 80 Washington St., Winchester, MA 01890 or to VNA Hospice, 100 Trade Center Care, Suite G-500, Woburn, MA 01801.