Katherine Maclaurin Staples, 79, of Lincoln, granddaughter of Richard C. Maclaurin, the 8th president of MIT (1909-1920), died peacefully of cancer on February 2nd. She had hoped to participate in the 100th anniversary of MIT’s move from Boston to Cambridge on May 7, 2016, which will also honor Dr. Maclaurin who had led that effort. Her father, W. Rupert Maclaurin, was Professor of Economics at MIT and also developed the Conantum section of Concord, MA in the early 1950’s. Kadie’s mother, born Elfriede Carter in Newton, MA, was the granddaughter of James R. Carter, a founder of Carter Rice & Company which later became Nashua Corp. in Nashua, NH.
Kadie grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts and attended Shady Hill School and Milton Academy, and then went to Goucher College. She became an elementary school teacher in Concord, MA. She later received a Masters degree in Special Needs Education from Lesley College and made an impact on children’s lives throughout her 35 year career at public schools including Boston, Lincoln, and Acton.
An enthusiastic skier, Kadie loved being the first person on the ski slope to chase powder runs. She co-founded a ski club in New Hampshire with her husband and friends that has brought together more than 25 families over the past 45 years. She skied the precipitous Tuckerman Ravine on Mount Washington and also skied the Alps many times. Ever adventurous and courageous, she was nearly 70 when she went para-skiing off the mountain’s edge at Trois Vallé in France.
Kadie not only skied many mountains, but hiked and climbed them as well, from the Grand Tetons and the Matterhorn to Mt. Fuji. Her energy was to be admired and was hard to match, whether on the trail, on the tennis court, or tackling daily projects. She was involved in many organizations, book groups, scholarship funds, and tennis and ski groups. She was a veracious reader and reviewer of books for adults and children.
She spent her last 6 ½ years battling cancer as well as surgeries for broken vertebrae and heart complications; however, during this time she never complained or let her ailments slow her down or stop her from traveling, hiking, or enjoying family and friends. She went to as many of her grandchildren’s events as possible, including basketball, football, lacrosse, and soccer games, as well as plays, concerts, and volleyball tournaments.
Kadie is survived by her devoted husband of 55 years, Charles O. (Chuck) Staples, their three children, Richard Maclaurin Staples of Windham, NH, Nancy Ann Hitchcock of North Andover, MA, and Charles Rupert Staples of Cumberland, ME; her brother, Robert Campbell Maclaurin of Peterboro, NH, her sister Joan Spence (Didi) Kearsley of Seattle, WA; her brother-in-law, Antony Decaneas of Boston; and seven grandchildren. She was predeceased by her sister Nancy M. Decaneas of Weston, MA.
A memorial service for friends and family will be held at the Wellesley Village Church on February 20, 2016 at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society, MGH, MIT or Tau Beta Beta Inc., which provides college scholarships to local high school senior girls.