Loving wife and mother with an enthusiastic personality and smile
LYNNFIELD — Marian Orfeo, 68, passed away peacefully on Thanksgiving Day after a three-year journey with ovarian cancer. She leaves behind her dear and devoted husband, Frank Scott, and beloved son, Christopher.
Marian achieved considerable professional success from her humble beginnings growing up in an Italian-American community in South Philadelphia. Her parents stressed the importance of education and made sacrifices to ensure her exposure to the arts. Marian distinguished herself academically and was awarded the Mayor’s Scholarship (only one per-year in Philadelphia), which provided her a full scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her undergraduate degree in City Planning. She then earned a Master’s degree in Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Marian spent a long career in public service, 15 years as a planner and administrator for the City of Boston, and subsequently 17 years at the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, where she eventually advanced to become a Special Assistant Administrator to the Executive Director. During her tenure at the MWRA, she also became involved in a national coordinating network for public water treatment agencies, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. She was elected to the Board of Directors and eventually president of NACWA in 2008. As recognition of her service, she received congressional citations of tribute sponsored by Sen. John Kerry and Rep. John Tierney. Marian completed her career as an administrator at the Broad Institute in Cambridge, a pioneering biomedical and genomic research center under the auspices of Harvard and MIT.
In both her professional and personal relationships, Marian was recognized for her effervescent personality, which energized others, and for her attractive, winning smile. She loved outdoor activities and travel, especially her annual family ski vacations and camping trips to Acadia National Park. She and Frank were fortunate to experience many cultures in their travels, including trips to Spain, China and multiple trips to her favorite country, Italy. Marian put considerable effort in planning dinner meals, and was a talented cook acquiring a massive collection of recipes. She enjoyed a wide range of music and attending live performances with Frank, spending time with friends, reading including organizing a book group after receiving her cancer diagnosis, taking quiet walks, and savoring the beautiful outdoor spaces Frank created at their home.
In addition to her husband and son, Marian leaves her sisters Michele Bozzini (Daniel) and Marie Matera (Joseph), her niece Gina and nephew Nicholas, and two great-nieces. Celebrations of Marian’s life will be held in Lynnfield and Philadelphia, Pa. The Lynnfield event will occur on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. at Lynnfield Congregational Church. If you are planning on attending this event, please RSVP at Office@Centre-Church.org. The Philadelphia event is still in the planning stage and will likely occur in January 2023.
Marian is deeply grateful to her oncology care team at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, particularly Dr. Megan Shea, and to her hospice team at Care Dimensions. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to a charity of your choosing that will reflect her values to assist others in need.
