Mary Lee Partington

It is with deep sadness, yet profound gratitude for a life lived with purpose and joy, that we share the news of the passing of Mary Lee Partington on April 21, 2024. A resident of North Scituate, formerly of Providence and Cumberland, Mary Lee was a nationally recognized secondary education teacher, a gifted American singer-songwriter and performer, and a champion of the arts and humanities. Mary Lee was a steadfast preservationist of the culture and heritage of the people who settled in the Blackstone River Valley. Always the teacher and consummate storyteller, Mary Lee’s music catalogue, steeped in Celtic tradition, serves as a lasting legacy that will influence generations to come. Though she held many titles in her life, the two that brought her the most pride were that of mother and grandmother, affectionately known as “Birdy” by her loving daughter and granddaughters. Tremendously proud of her heritage, Mary Lee unselfishly was the keeper of own family’s traditions and history, always quick to note that she is “kin” to a family of singers dating back to the 19th century. Born on the Summer Solstice of 1954, her earliest recollection of singing was with her mother at the tender age of three. Together, through the years, their vocal talent delighted all who stilled to listen, treasured fondly as the highlight of family gatherings and holidays. The daughter of a distinguished Rhode Island State Trooper (RISP), and part of a storied law enforcement and public service family, she was inspired by a calling to share her many gifts in the fields teaching, arts and humanities. Preceded in death by her parents Captain Willard F. Partington (RISP) and Elizabeth (Whitehead) Partington, and most recently, her beloved sister-in law Lynne (Frawley) Partington. She is survived by her daughter Sarah Kate Drouin Vitale and her husband Adam of Rehoboth, MA, her talented granddaughters, Caroline Mae and Katherine Rose also of Rehoboth, her devoted fiancé Glenn Siner of North Scituate, RI and his mother Mabel Coyne of Chepachet, RI, her sister Kathleen Partington of Cumberland, RI and her brother Gary Partington (Lynne) of Bourne, MA, her nieces, Samantha Partington and her fiancé Cory Kramer of East Boston, MA, and Tess Partington Lambros and her husband Michael, and their children Henry and Natalie of Marstons Mills, MA. Mary Lee had a special place in her heart for her “beloveds” as she called her cousins Scott Partington, his wife Rebecca and their daughter Emily Mae, and Sean Brennan and his wife Lynne, all of Cumberland, RI. She leaves behind the cousins of the Whitehead and Major families and was preceded by her cousins, Brian Brennan and Jonathan Partington. A graduate of Cumberland High School and Rhode Island College, Mary Lee took her love of teaching and literature to Burrillville High School where she captured the imagination of scores of young people through her arts-based teaching methods blending literature, poetry, theater and writing. Students not only learned about Shakespeare - Mary Lee brought the Elizabethan era to life. Her unique teaching practices were a cover story in Teacher Magazine and Education Week and the focus of a television episode of School Stories, a program of the National Education Association and The Learning Channel. She was lauded in a book by G. Wayne Miller entitled, Coming of Age: The True Adventure of Two American Teens where the author devoted an entire chapter to her charismatic gift for touching the hearts and minds of others, and her perfection of the art of teaching. In 1993, Mary Lee added another accolade to her resume, 21st Century Rhode Island Teacher of the Year, based on a student essay by Scott Dumouchelle praising her “love and lively spirit that make the learning atmosphere inside the classroom the happiest and most joyful of all the classrooms that I have ever been in…she taught me that life was hard and one must always work their hardest in order to get by.” Work hard, Mary Lee Partington did, inside and outside of the classroom. Her love of all things Irish, especially music, would lead to the creation of the lauded New England-based folk music band Pendragon of which she was a founding member and lead vocalist for 34 years. Pendragon celebrated the rich traditions of Celtic music and brought to life the legacy of generations of immigrants. Her song book includes numerous songs and ballads that she wrote depicting the lives those who settled along the Blackstone River. Mary Lee and Pendragon were both nominated and won numerous awards for best vocals, best folk and music categories for more than a decade in New England. Mary Lee together with Pendragon band members were the driving force behind the creation of the Blackstone River Theater (BRT) and efforts to preserve the Masonic Temple in Cumberland. Today, the BRT is a non-profit cultural arts center where the music, dance and folk arts traditions of the Blackstone River Valley come to life. It is only fitting that as a summer solstice baby, her influence and inspiration can be seen in the annual Summer Solstice Festival. She left her role as Chairman of the BRT’s Board of Directors and Artistic Director in 2007 after 25 years of volunteer service. Today, she holds the esteemed and distinct honor of being the Theatre’s Artistic Director Emeritus. The energy and dedication that Mary Lee devoted to promoting and expanding the state’s arts and humanities sector is unparalleled. She served two terms as a Board Director for the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities primarily focused on developing grants and programs. She served as a Board Secretary, Grants Committee Chair, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors and member of the Executive Committee. Mary Lee has been developing programming at Slater Mill in the City of Pawtucket for decades to celebrate its unique place in history as the birthplace of the industrial revolution and the labor movement. She was the Artistic Director for the Rhode Island Labor and Ethnic Heritage Festival and helped in the creation of the Pawtucket Arts Festival, serving many years as its Artistic Director. She understood the important role that young people play in the long-term preservation of the arts and cultural traditions. She served as Chairman of the Board of New Urban Arts, a nationally heralded youth through the arts organization. In recognition of Mary Lee’s lifetime contributions to education, performance, community engagement and to preserving the rich heritage of the Blackstone River Valley, she was nominated by United States Senator Jack Reed for The Blackstone Valley Heritage Corridor’s John H. Chafee Heritage Award which honors “heroes” who have demonstrated the Valley’s long tradition of leadership and inspiration. She humbly and graciously accepted this honor among family and lifelong friends in December, 2023. Mary Lee continued to blend her love of music and storytelling both on stage and in the music studio. She performed as part of a music duo, Partington & Sweeney, in collaboration with guitarist Ed Sweeney. The 2020 CD compilation, Commonplaces with Partington & Sweeney, features beautiful American and British songs and ballads as well as some of Mary Lee’s folk-roots originals. Mary Lee took great pride in her collaboration with Kevin Doyle’s Roscommon Soles to create innovative stage shows and performances that capture the Irish love of family and friends through dance, music, and songs with heartfelt stories and local Irish history woven throughout the performance based on scripts developed and narrated by Mary Lee. She delighted in the creative crossroads of writing and singing the stories that shine a spotlight on ordinary folk who embrace extraordinary experiences as an everyday expectation. She also expressed joy in working with All-Ireland award winners, fiddler Sheila Falls and uilleann piper Torrin Ryan. Mary Lee’s final performance was truly a labor of love and endurance. Determined that the show must go on despite daunting health challenges, she was driven to complete her work on Roscommon Soles, “The Pipes Are Calling”, a show to celebrate the season of St. Patrick. On February 28th, 2024, Mary Lee Partington took the professional stage for the last time at Providence Performing Arts Center. The performance was epic - so special for many reasons, the theater location, the inclusion of the PPAC Wurlitzer organ in the show, but most touching was that she shared the stage. “Birdy” and her granddaughter, Caroline, who inherited the family gift of music, poignantly performed together. Mary Lee was beaming as Caroline turned to look at her as she closed the show singing “Danny Boy” and “When Irish Eyes are Smiling” before a packed PPAC audience who joined them in song. Caroline can now claim that she, too, is part of a family of singers that dates back to the 19th century. Mary Lee, never one to sit still, loved to travel for both work and pleasure. Together, she and her favorite travel companion and dear friend, Laura Travis, regularly journeyed to destinations in Ireland, England and Scotland to explore locations tied to their ancestral roots and to rekindle friendships developed over the years. Just this past February, Mary Lee traveled to Glasgow to attend the Celtic Connection Music Festival. Mary Lee did everything with purpose and determination from projects she chose to work on to her choice of travel destinations. But, the beautiful 18th century home and property she shared with her fiancé, Glenn Siner, was where she knew her heart belonged. They shared a love of history and all things “old”, and authentically restored a home which reflects that love and is a tribute to its origins. It was here, in their beloved homestead, that Mary Lee was able to spend her final weeks and days in Glenn’s loving and devoted care. She came home to “The Farm” – to the place that she loved – to be surrounded by the company of cherished friends and family. She wanted everyone to know that she was grateful for the life she was given, felt she lived it to the fullest, and mostly, that she was happy. Although she felt she still had much to do and hated to leave, she accepted her prognosis with grace, courage and good humor. She continued to direct the show, in essence writing the script for her “beloveds” to follow at the time of her passing. At the moment of her passing, we are comforted to share that she was encircled by loving family, listening and soothed by her favorite Irish songs - a perfect Irish goodbye. Mary Lee was grateful and fortunate to be cared for by Dr. Cara Matthews, MD and her entire team at The Research Program in Women’s Oncology at Women and Infants Hospital. A brilliant teacher and researcher at heart, Mary Lee approached her cancer diagnosis as she did any of her complicated projects. She was dogged in her research, went to appointments armed with information, wanting to know every detail, and determined to have a strong voice in her care plan. Dr. Matthews was the “North Star” Mary Lee trusted to guide her through this arduous journey. Like others before her, she fought her cancer with tenacious purpose, bravery and grace. In true Mary Lee style, she was proud to contribute through her courageous participation in clinical trials designed to promote advancements and improve outcomes in cancer treatment for women in the future. In keeping with Mary Lee’s expressed wishes and also to honor this year which would have been her 70th Summer Solstice birthday - plans for a celebration of her life are underway to take place at a future date this summer at the Blackstone River Theater, featuring many of her favorite artists and friends – as she might say a “Hoolie.” Those who shared in her storied life, and wish to honor Mary Lee’s memory are invited to consider a donation to the Blackstone River Theatre, 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, RI 02864, or to Women and Infants Hospital Program in Women’s Oncology, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI 02905.

Tributes

Mary Lee Partington

April 21, 2024