STONINGTON: Diane “Di” Lamont MacFadyen, aged 92, died on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at her home in Stonington, CT.
She is survived by her two children, Diane de Mailly and Robert G. de Mailly and his wife Evelyn and their son John; and by her three stepchildren, John A. (“Terry”) MacFadyen and his wife B. Jean Rosiello and their sons James, Alexander, and Christopher and his wife Dr. Gabriela Cordova, Janet Cochrane MacFadyen and husband Stephen Schmidt, and Jean Gerrish MacFadyen and husband Jerold Harmatz.
Born in 1928 in Evanston, Illinois, Diane was the daughter of the late Charles Gerhard Beersman and Beatrix Broffe Beersman and brother of the late Jack Beers. Charles Beersman, a member of the architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White in Chicago, was Chief Designer of the iconic Wrigley Building and other landmark buildings.
Diane was educated at The Thomas School in Rowayton CT and at Sarah Lawrence College. In 1952, she married Dr. Robert G. de Mailly at St. Bartholomew in New York City and moved to his home in San Francisco, where she was an active volunteer with Children’s Theater and the Junior League. After her husband’s tragic death in 1957, Diane moved back East with her two young children.
In 1967, Diane married John “Jack” A. MacFadyen, transplanting from New York City to the bucolic Williamstown, MA where Jack was Professor and Chairman of the Williams College geology department. In 1972-73, they spent a sabbatical year in Aarhus, Denmark and again in London from 1980-81. Diane was an active volunteer with the Women’s Exchange and the public tv station.
Summers were spent in Stonington, CT where Diane’s great aunt and uncle, Olga and Archibald “Doggie” Fraser, first settled in the 1940’s in the stone house on Cannon Square, designed by Diane’s father, Charles Beersman. After the passing of Olga in 1977, Diane took over management of her consignment antique shop on Water Street before retiring full-time in 1982.
Sailing and cruising were a consummate love during Diane’s lifetime in Stonington. She was also an active tennis and paddle tennis player. Diane was a volunteer with the Historical Society and a dedicated Pilot of Mystic Seaport.
As President of the Stonington Garden Club from 1996 to 1998, Diane spearheaded an effort to expand on the success of the natural science class, NatureScapes, that had been funded by the Stonington Garden Club since 1993. “What’s Up Outside”, a 56-page teacher’s workbook based on the NatureScapes curriculum and published in 1998, was developed and funded by the Garden Club as a gift to third grade classrooms in Connecticut. Also under Diane’s leadership, the Stonington Children’s Community Garden was created.
Diane and Jack were long time members of the Wadawanuck Club and the Stonington Country Club and wintered in St. Croix.
A virtual celebration of life will be held this spring. For updates, please check back at this website.
Letters to the family may be sent to PO Box 747, Stonington, CT 06378. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Diane’s name to the Stonington Free Library, 20 High St, Stonington, CT 06378 or to the Mystic Seaport Museum, 75 Greenmanville Ave, Mystic, CT 06355.
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