Lavin, Nina Barnwell King, Wellesley, MA, died April 8th, 2017 after a brief illness. Friends and family are invited to attend her Memorial Service, Saturday, July 22nd, 2017, 10:00 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills.
Original and unforgettable, Nina was an artist, landscape designer and beloved wife of the late Raymond W. Lavin. She was born in Charleston, SC, November 30, 1935, daughter of the late Pauline Smith Heyward and Hugh Legare King. She attended schools in Summit, NJ, Charleston, SC, Milwaukee, WI, and St. Louis, MO, graduating from The John Burroughs School in 1953. She transferred from Mills College to The Rhode Island School Of Design, graduating in 1958 with a degree in sculpture. She was also talented in many other media and the theatre arts. She married in 1959 and pursued her creative interests while raising two children and caring for her family. In the early 1980s, she earned a certificate in Landscape Design from Radcliffe College and began her business, working well into her 70s. For the past ten years, Nina took classes in stained glass at the Newton Art Center, which recently led to a large art glass installation illustrating her life long love of color and nature. She left plans for more. She always had a project.
Nina lived in Wellesley for 52 years and was active with a number of community, horticultural and professional organizations. Her memberships included The Junior League of Boston, The Colonial Dames of America, The Garden Club of Wellesley, Wellesley Garden Study Group, Mass Horticultural Society, Association of Professional Landscape Planners, National American Glass Club, Well Spouse Association, Wellesley Neighbors and a long list of arts and environmental groups. Among her many accomplishments, she helped develop the recycling program for Wellesley RFD in the 1970s, made a movie “The Water Cycle” for area schools, and won a gold medal with APLD at the New England Flower show in 1991. She also saved every cat that came to the doorstep, fed all the local wildlife, took up tap dancing in her 60s and made sure every garden she designed was a personal painting for her clients.
She is survived by her children, Meggett B. Lavin (Malcolm M. Crosland) Mt. Pleasant, SC, Hugh K. Lavin (Elisabeth Lavin-Peter) Singapore; grandchildren Elliott M. Crosland and Aurora Lavin-Peter; brother Hugh L. King, Jr. (Karen Pederson) L.A., CA, and multiple nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to SPIN (Stray Pets In Need), P.O. Box 812143, Wellesley, MA 02482; Guardian Angels Cat Rescue, P.O. Box 5533, Wayland, MA 01778, or the conservation organization of your choice.