By Mike Rosenberg
Louise Maglione, who died Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at the age of 88, was a trailblazing community role model whose leadership was defined by optimism, perseverance, and humility.
Elected as Bedford’s first woman selectman in 1974, Mrs. Maglione served three terms during a period of transition, as the town began governance under provisions that moved day-to-day management passed from selectmen to a town administrator.
Her broad record of community service also ranged from youth and church activities to the Rotary Club of Bedford. Mrs. Maglione was selected as Bedford’s sixth citizen-of-the-year in 1984.
Mrs. Maglione passed away in South Carolina, near the home of her son Steven and his family. A memorial service is planned for 9:30 am on Saturday, April 21, 2018, at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, 100 Pine Hill Road in Bedford.
“She was a wonderful person, a fine human being,” asserted retired Superior Court Judge Robert Barton, who was town moderator during most of Mrs. Maglione’s selectman career. “It took a lot of courage to be the first woman in any man’s world. She was respected by everyone.”
“I was inspired by her example,” said Judy Barber, who was the third woman selectman, elected in the late 1970s. “It was a difficult time for women to be accepted. We had a group called Woman Elected Municipal Officials that met to support each other. Women on area town boards were overlooked and ignored. Louise was a role model on how to handle being on a board of all men.”
One of Mrs. Maglione’s colleagues on the board, Frank Gicca, recalled that “she worked hard as a selectman in a period when our dated infrastructure had to be modernized. She helped create the project that brought sewers to the entire town, helped create our greater water supply and was key in resolving that the Town Common indeed belonged to Bedford.”
Don Corey was elected selectman on the same ballot as Mrs. Maglione. He said their ascent as first-time office-holders marked “the end of the old regime.” Mrs. Maglione, he said, “really served the town well. I always thought she was very conscientious.”
Her style was deliberate, plain-spoken and pragmatic, with a sense of humor. During an intense discussion on radical traffic control plans in advance of the American Revolution Bicentennial, she quipped, “Do we really think there will be thousands of tourists lining up to see the Bedford Flag?” Once at a board meeting, she was asked about whether she preferred the title selectwoman. The town charter provides for selectman, she said, and that’s the position she held.
Joanna Nickerson, who for many years was assistant to the town administrator (and later assistant town manager), noted that Mrs. Maglione opposed any efforts to widen The Great Road, and also opposed the sale of the closed Page School. She also successfully invited the mayor of Bedford, England and his entourage to this town’s 275th anniversary celebration in 2004.
Mrs. Maglione grew up in Lincoln and was a librarian in the headquarters of the Massachusetts Audubon Society in that town. “She was interested in conservation and the environment before it became fashionable,” observed Betsey Anderson, a former selectman, and moderator. “I respected her greatly.”
Mrs. Maglione’s involvement at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church included usher, greeter, religious school teacher and director of the Christmas pageant for many years. “That meant dealing with kids from age three through high school,” explained Paul Ciaccia, long active with the church.
She was active in the League of Women Voters and served as a volunteer with Bedford chapter, Citizens Scholarship Foundation, including a two-year term as president in the mid-1980s. (Full disclosure – I always will be grateful to Louise for recruiting me to serve as master of ceremonies for the annual scholarship presentation event.)
Mrs. Maglione’s husband James was deeply involved with the Recreation Commission for more than two decades. After his death in 2002, Mrs. Maglione became active with Rotary Club of Bedford. Each year the club sponsors a Breakfast with Santa Claus in December, and Mrs. Maglione served as Mrs. Claus for a few years, said Ralph Hammond, a club leader. “She as a wonderful Rotarian.”
Mr. and Mrs. Maglione had two sons, Steven and Philip. “It has taken time and history to really reflect on how monumental that period of her life really was,” Phil observed. “It really seems like my mom was 30 years ahead of her time We considered it normal, but she was elected to the Board of Selectman, elected chair — that just didn’t happen
Phil Maglione, who graduated from Bedford High School more than 40 years ago, emphasized his mother’s aversion to negativity, and her effort to achieve consensus. “The message she conveyed to my brother and me was: Do your homework, and don’t back down – as long as you’re prepared.”
Editor’s Note: In lieu of flowers, donations in Louise Maglione’s name may be sent to the Citizen Scholarship Foundation, Mass Audubon, or Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church. Messages of condolence emailed to [email protected] will be promptly forwarded to the family.
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