Obituary for David H. Morse
David Holdrege Morse, age 86, died February 6, 2021, at his home on Beacon Hill.
An unfailingly courteous man of few words, David was loyal, generous, patient and kind. His life was that of a cultured New England gentleman, characterized by a deep sense of responsibility to others and an enjoyment and profound caring for the people in his life and the organizations to which he belonged.
David was born May 17,1934, the son of Charles Fessenden Morse and Cora Rand Droppers Morse in Milton, MA. His mother’s family were long-time residents of a large estate in what is now Porter Square in Cambridge. His father’s family were early developers in Boston’s Back Bay. David graduated from Milton Academy in 1952 and Harvard University in 1956. He attended Columbia University Law School, graduating in 1959, and then served briefly in the US Army in France. Afterward he joined the Boston law firm of Hemenway & Barnes where he was a partner, with a focus on real estate law. He retired in 1996, remaining of counsel until his death.
A lifelong member of the First Parish of Milton Unitarian Church, he served on its vestry for many years. When he found it difficult to travel to Milton for services, he joined King's Chapel in Boston. He served on many non-profit boards including Rogerson Communities for 30 years, Beacon House for 14 years. He was president of the Friends of the Blue Hills and served on its board for 14 years. He also served on the board and was president of Putnam Camp, a summer retreat in the Adirondacks where he enjoyed gathering with family and friends all his life. As an undergraduate David was a member of the D.U. Club, which later merged with the Fly Club. He served on its graduate board of directors for more than three decades. He was a proprietor of the Boston Athenaeum and valued his membership in the Somerset Club in Boston and the Ausable Club in the Adirondacks.
Although he could not cook, he enjoyed meals with his family and friends and greatly appreciated the fine food his wife, children and club chefs created. He was particularly fond of dark chocolate, chocolate chip cookies and pie. He felt he was blessed with loving stepchildren and step-grandchildren. He loved their antics and thrived in sharing swims and good books with them. He was a devoted walker, often accompanied by his family members and friends. He loved the Blue Hills of his boyhood home, the marshes and bluffs of Cape Cod and the countryside of Europe. As a young man he hiked all 46 mountains over 4,000 feet in the Adirondacks, and then spent the rest of his life hiking them again with friends and family. He often finished these walks and hikes with a bracing dip in the pond behind his house in Milton, Cape Cod’s Nauset Beach, a lake or stream in the Adirondacks or a loch in Scotland. His family and friends will remember him for his long life, well lived.
As a final act of kindness, David donated his brain to Massachusetts General Hospital for Alzheimer’s research.
He leaves Susan McWhinney-Morse, his partner of 48 years, who became his wife 26 years ago, as well as his step-children, Ragan McNeely of Cambridge and partner Claritza Abreu, Rand Chatterjee of British Columbia, Sarah McNeely Byrne and her husband Chris Byrne of Williamsburg, VA and Madeline McNeely of Newton, and seven step-grandchildren: Oliver McNeely of Providence, RI, Colin McNeely of Cambridge, Emilia and Jack Byrne of Williamsburg, VA, Aidan and Ciarán McNeely of Cambridge and Rhiannon Esposito of Newton. He was preceded in death by his parents and a beloved step-grandson, Alexander McNeely Byrne of Williamsburg, VA.
A service has not yet been scheduled. Donations in his memory can be sent to the Friends of the Blue Hills, PO Box 416, Milton, MA 02186 or at www.friendsofthebluehills.org.
An unfailingly courteous man of few words, David was loyal, generous, patient and kind. His life was that of a cultured New England gentleman, characterized by a deep sense of responsibility to others and an enjoyment and profound caring for the people in his life and the organizations to which he belonged.
David was born May 17,1934, the son of Charles Fessenden Morse and Cora Rand Droppers Morse in Milton, MA. His mother’s family were long-time residents of a large estate in what is now Porter Square in Cambridge. His father’s family were early developers in Boston’s Back Bay. David graduated from Milton Academy in 1952 and Harvard University in 1956. He attended Columbia University Law School, graduating in 1959, and then served briefly in the US Army in France. Afterward he joined the Boston law firm of Hemenway & Barnes where he was a partner, with a focus on real estate law. He retired in 1996, remaining of counsel until his death.
A lifelong member of the First Parish of Milton Unitarian Church, he served on its vestry for many years. When he found it difficult to travel to Milton for services, he joined King's Chapel in Boston. He served on many non-profit boards including Rogerson Communities for 30 years, Beacon House for 14 years. He was president of the Friends of the Blue Hills and served on its board for 14 years. He also served on the board and was president of Putnam Camp, a summer retreat in the Adirondacks where he enjoyed gathering with family and friends all his life. As an undergraduate David was a member of the D.U. Club, which later merged with the Fly Club. He served on its graduate board of directors for more than three decades. He was a proprietor of the Boston Athenaeum and valued his membership in the Somerset Club in Boston and the Ausable Club in the Adirondacks.
Although he could not cook, he enjoyed meals with his family and friends and greatly appreciated the fine food his wife, children and club chefs created. He was particularly fond of dark chocolate, chocolate chip cookies and pie. He felt he was blessed with loving stepchildren and step-grandchildren. He loved their antics and thrived in sharing swims and good books with them. He was a devoted walker, often accompanied by his family members and friends. He loved the Blue Hills of his boyhood home, the marshes and bluffs of Cape Cod and the countryside of Europe. As a young man he hiked all 46 mountains over 4,000 feet in the Adirondacks, and then spent the rest of his life hiking them again with friends and family. He often finished these walks and hikes with a bracing dip in the pond behind his house in Milton, Cape Cod’s Nauset Beach, a lake or stream in the Adirondacks or a loch in Scotland. His family and friends will remember him for his long life, well lived.
As a final act of kindness, David donated his brain to Massachusetts General Hospital for Alzheimer’s research.
He leaves Susan McWhinney-Morse, his partner of 48 years, who became his wife 26 years ago, as well as his step-children, Ragan McNeely of Cambridge and partner Claritza Abreu, Rand Chatterjee of British Columbia, Sarah McNeely Byrne and her husband Chris Byrne of Williamsburg, VA and Madeline McNeely of Newton, and seven step-grandchildren: Oliver McNeely of Providence, RI, Colin McNeely of Cambridge, Emilia and Jack Byrne of Williamsburg, VA, Aidan and Ciarán McNeely of Cambridge and Rhiannon Esposito of Newton. He was preceded in death by his parents and a beloved step-grandson, Alexander McNeely Byrne of Williamsburg, VA.
A service has not yet been scheduled. Donations in his memory can be sent to the Friends of the Blue Hills, PO Box 416, Milton, MA 02186 or at www.friendsofthebluehills.org.