In Memoriam: Eileen McGrath

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • September 20, 2021

The MMA and Nantucket have lost a true, devoted friend and mentor. Miss McGrath as many of us knew her, was one-of-a kind. She touched so many of us, was so involved in the civic life and non-profits of this island, and valued and believed in her community and the people who make it what it is. She was a fixture at Town meeting (and always in the same seat) and behind the desk at the Atheneum once she retired from the Lincoln School in Rhode Island where she taught science – to some young women who called Nantucket home year-round or in summer.


I did not call Miss McGrath, “Eileen,” until well into my time on the Coffin School Trustees. When I first was asked to join, I remember her telling me, “You’re on the Trustees until you die!” She wasn’t really joking. And that tells you a bit about her personality.


My growing up at the MMA allowed me to be surrounded by incredible women – many of them, like Eileen, now gone. The stories they would tell; the things they did. Each and every one was truly an amazing person who is now a part of me.


I came to know Eileen better when I became an adult – though I never felt like one with her. Not that she didn’t treat me like an adult but she is fifty years older than me. Oh the stories she would tell me and the laugh – she had this great laugh and a smile that tended to drop more on her lower jaw and was deep and wide. 


She was for many years, the MMA’s Director of Natural Science. She would teach at the Lincoln School during the year and return home to Nantucket and the MMA for the summer. She held many roles at the MMA before that time, including working in the MMA Science Library (now Research Center). And, when young, she was taken under the wing of our first astronomer, Margaret Harwood, who made sure that Eileen was able to go to college – Miss Harwood’s alma mater – Radcliffe. I remember Eileen telling me that Miss Harwood just went up to summer people she knew and said something to the effect of, “This girl got into Radcliffe and you need to help with her tuition.” Straight, to the point, sort of like Eileen was.


I don’t know how she found the time to do all that she did – so many boards and committees. She was an incredibly intelligent woman who really knew the answers – and if not, how to get there. She served on the MMA’s board for many years after she retired as NatSci director and other non-profits were graced with her knowledge, wisdom, and her willingness to roll up her sleeves – from the Nantucket Land Council, to the Coffin School Trustees, to the Community Foundation for Nantucket. She had a way to calm people down when things got a little heated – I was witness to that at least once. It was sort of the teacher voice that I think came through.


She was forever in a bucket hat – I remember one with a kelly green file ribbon that was attached to it. Wrap around skirts and sturdy sneakers. Once, she was having a hard time backing out of the MMA driveway at our administrative offices and I remember her saying to me, “You think you can back that out for me?” “Sure,” (gulp) I said! Terrified that with her watching me, I was going to back into the car that had parked too close to her. Mind you, I was about 35 or so at the time! 


She touched so many lives –children, students, interns, assistants at the MMA. What an incredible mentor.  She still went to Lincoln School reunions until her health didn’t allow that anymore. I was in awe of her – and all she did – and I still am. We should all take a lesson from Eileen about dedication, passion, and giving back. Wherever she is, she has a nice late day whiskey in hand watching out over her island. Thank you, Eileen.


The step, however small, which is in advance of the world, shows the greatness of the person, whether that step be taken with brain, with heart, or with hands. – Maria Mitchell


JNLF

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By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • November 10, 2025
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By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • November 3, 2025
I am not so sure our founders would love that title but the image is of the Maria Mitchell Vestal Street Observatory (MMO) “from the rear.” I love this image as it is really the only one we have – unless you count the one that is taken from farther away and from further into the backyard of the Mitchell House. That one allows you to see the natural slope of the Mitchell House back lawn which would be altered when they added the Curator’s Cottage. Both of the images were taken before the Curator’s Cottage was added at the back of the Mitchell House in the early 1930s – and this one you see here was taken before 1922 when they added the Astronomical Study onto the MMO. It also shows the original dome – which was copper – before it was replaced in 1951 – which is the current dome. The copper did not hold up to our climate here – salt spray, damp, fog. But the new one, shipped over from England, has held up well. The current dome was donated by Margaret Underwood Davis (MMA board president at the time), in memory of her son, Cushing Davis who was an amateur astronomer. Margaret Davis served as president from 1930-1946 and again from 1949-1953. The image tells you some other things too. For instance, the grape arbor behind the Mitchell House is supposed to be Peleg Mitchell’s (Maria’s uncle) grape vine – I have blogged about it several times before – and you can see it in this image. You can also see how the Milk Room connects to the 1850s kitchen. The 1850s kitchen was added by Peleg Mitchell Jr and it’s the first little wart you see with the white pipe attached. The next wart is the Milk Room – also added by Peleg – it’s the one with the shutters on the window. Both still exist it’s just the Curator’s Cottage was attached in the 1930s. You will see another chimney too. It appears alongside the white pipe. That is likely the original chimney to what is now the Astronomer’s Cottage at the MMA. We acquired the Cottage in the 1920s but I believe all of the additions, and the removal of the chimney, were done before we were given it.  Fun! JNLF

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