Marjorie “Marge” Horvitz Tayer passed away on October 25, surrounded by her loving family. Born in 1937, the first-born child of Betty (Shindler) and Louis Horvitz, Marge grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts, alongside her brother, Paul, and sister, Jane (Bramberg). In a comfortable family environment filled with friends, early romances, and youthful shenanigans, Marge developed an independent spirit and a healthy disregard for pretension. Those qualities would find a welcome footing during her high school years at the Cambridge School of Weston, where Marge formed lifelong friendships and began exploring her artistic talents. She continued to cultivate her creativity at Chatham College in Pittsburgh and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Doubts about the institution of marriage for this free-spirited young woman were swept aside when she found her soulmate in Barton Tayer (deceased), beginning a loving partnership that spanned 64 years. She was Bart’s trusted confidant as he built a successful orthodontic practice, and she brought her distinctive artistic sensibility to the homes they created in Brookline and Mattapoisett. The greatest joy they shared was raising their three children, Amy, John and Suzie. Marge and Bart were dogged in their commitment to education as the essential foundation for their children, while exposing them to many cultural experiences.
Marge was seemingly most comfortable in jeans and a sweatshirt as she tinkered in the basement on the affairs of her antiques business or immersed in one of her many art projects. Yet, Marge also instilled in her children the necessity of dressing for the occasion, whether for a trip to the theater or a family gathering. She also was an avid traveler, logging frequent trips abroad and across the country with Bart and the family, or simply traversing New England in search of the next piece of artwork or craft to adorn her carefully curated homes. In later years, Marge enjoyed tending to her beloved gardens in Mattapoisett and delighting in the wildlife that threatened her horticulture. And then there were Marge’s political and social interests, whether expressed through her volunteer service in support of fair housing policies or her tireless critique of current events.
Mostly, Marge was a person who loved deeply. She delighted in welcoming her children’s partners–Howard Goldman, John Montgomery and Molly Tayer–and immersing herself in the lives of her six grandchildren, their spouses/fiancées and great grandchild): Nathaniel, Zachary (and fiancée Gabrielle), and Lucas (and wife Sebby) Goldman, and Max (and wife Abbey and daughter Murphy), Morgen, and Sam Montgomery. Yet, whether in her family or among her friends, every relationship she built was punctuated by her genuine interest and concern for the individual. You always felt seen in her presence, while she offered valued guidance and meaningful support. That special character is the indelible legacy of a remarkable wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend.
The family is deeply appreciative of the care Marge received from her cancer team at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Boston, headed by Dr. Deepa Rangachari, along with the companionship and friendship of her aide, Maureen Rounseville. There will be a private memorial service in celebration of Marge at her Mattapoisett home in November. If you wish to honor Marge’s memory, please consider a donation in her name to the American Repertory Theater (Marge was a devoted subscriber who found such joy in attending A.R.T.’s productions and sharing those experiences with family and friends, even as her health declined), americanrepertorytheater.org. You may also honor her memory with a donation to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in her name, in support of cancer research and patient care at dana-farber.org/gift.
