Josephine was the daughter of Dr. Channing S. Swan and Elise Rutledge Swan. She was raised in Weston, MA with her sisters, Helen and Betts. As a young woman, she lived in Cambridge and Manhattan. In 1953 Jody met her future husband, George Blagden – who happened to be fogged-in on a sailboat in Blue Hill harbor, ME – and she married him there in 1956. Together for 61 years they lovingly raised their children, Tim and Julia first at Long Hill in Beverly, MA and then in Manchester by-the-Sea, MA. With time they welcomed wonderful in-laws, grandchildren and “greats” into their lives. For six decades, Jody and George also remained part of a summer community in Blue Hill, ME. In 2016, they retired to The Huntington at Nashua in NH.
Jody began her academic education at the Meadowbrook School and the Winsor School in MA. In 1953 she graduated cum laude from Vassar College with a major in Music. Jody shared her school path with her dearest lifelong friends, Betsy Wakefield Doermann, Hope Trumbull Moore and Ellie Thomas Nelson.
As a musician, Jody “tickled the ivories” for more than 87 years and enjoyed singing right up to her last week of life. Her piano instruction began when she was six, and as with most dedicated pianists, Jody became a perfectionist. After college, she worked in Boston, as a secretary at The Boston Symphony, and spent two delightful summers working at Tanglewood. From 1965-1995 Jody was a devoted piano teacher to 112 private students, and the creator of marvelous “Piano Parties” in which her students would participate. Early in her 40’s, she learned to play the organ, and became the substitute organist at Christ Church of Hamilton & Wenham. To unwind, she regularly attended concerts performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). In the spring of 1971 Jody and George took a “trip of a lifetime” to the UK and Europe on a tour with the BSO, the Pops Orchestra and Chamber Players, along with the conductors, William Steinberg, Arthur Fielder and Michael Tilson Thomas, and attended all their concerts as well as special events during the tour. Jody was also a former board member of Young Audiences of MA and spent more than 10 years bringing music, theater and art into underserved schools throughout Greater Boston.
As an artist, Jody began watercolor painting in 1983. She was a student of various artists on the North Shore of Boston and attended many workshops to enhance her talents in this challenging medium. During her “second career,” Jody created an impressive 448 watercolors and learned to frame her own artwork. She showed and sold her work in both solo art shows and group exhibits while earning jury awards and professional recognition along the way. She was an exhibiting member of the New England Watercolor Society; Guild of Beverly Artists; North Shore Arts Association; Rockport Art Association, and Deer Isle Arts Association.
As an athlete, Jody was active and competitive in various sports, especially tennis. When she joined the ranks of senior citizenship, she and George transitioned from playing familiar backyard croquet to learning the more challenging and strategic game of American 6-wicket croquet. With tenacious practice, Jody became a nationally ranked croquet player, and remained so well into her 80’s.
Josephine loved a full range of activities on land and sea such as sightseeing; beachcombing; gardening; swimming; sailing; attending performances and lectures; reading; writing clever poems for family occasions; playing a variety of board-, card- and yard games, and working on jigsaw puzzles. Her grandchildren best remember playing “Pounce” and croquet with “JoJo”. Jody was a co-founder of the Prides Beach Association and former member of the Essex County Club; Manchester Yacht Club; Blue Hill Country Club; Kollegewidgwok Yacht Club; Mayflower Society; and the NSCDA-MA. The bonds that Jody made through her activities were boundless.
Jody was predeceased by her husband, George Blagden (2017), her younger sister, Elisabeth Swan “Betts” Weitzel (2019) and her son-in-law, Christopher JS Emby (2021). She is survived by her older sister, Helen Swan Merrill, of Scarborough, ME, her son, Timothy S. Blagden (Kristen Riley), of Warner, NH, her daughter, Julia W. Blagden (the late CJS Emby) of Novato, CA, four grandchildren: Tucker W. Blagden (Katie Palmer), Margo M. Goodrich (Scott), Andrew R. Blagden and Katherine R. Blagden, three (soon to be four) great grandchildren, Jacqueline Marie Blagden, Aubrielle Josephine Blagden and Whitney George Blagden, as well as numerous devoted extended family and friends.
A service celebrating Jody’s life will be held Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 10:30 AM in the Chapel at Christ Church of Hamilton & Wenham, 149 Asbury St., So. Hamilton, MA; her former organ teacher and church choirmaster, Henry Lowe will be the organist; a reception nearby will immediately follow the service.
The Blagden Family wish to thank the staff in Kent Village at The Huntington at Nashua, who provided Jody with outstanding care for the seven years she lived there with progressive vascular dementia. We ask with gratitude, that in lieu of sending flowers, please consider a memorial contribution in Jody’s honor to an organization listed below, or to another charity of choice.
Arts for Learning Massachusetts https://artsforlearningma.org (funds extend to MA, RI, NH & ME)
Kneisel Hall Chamber Music School and Festival in Blue Hill, ME www.kneisel.org/donate
Trustees of Reservations for: Long Hill in Beverly MA. Honoree: Jody Blagden who lived at Long Hill from 1960-1980 https://thetrustees.org/support
Concord - Lake Sunapee Rail Trail (Tim’s 34-mile trail development nonprofit in NH) https://clsrt.org
