Mary Margaret Lester

Mary Margaret Lester, an East Hampton native and lifelong resident, died on October 19 at Southampton Hospital following a stroke she suffered just four days prior. She was 101.

Born on May 7, 1907, in Wainscott to Fredrick and Clara (née Brinker) Grimshaw, she was a granddaughter of Francis and Frances (née Cullum) Grimshaw of East Hampton. She never knew them or her other Grimshaw relatives as her parents never owned a car and so never got to East Hampton. Her mother had a horse and buggy and her father rode a bicycle.

She attended Water Mill and Hayground schools and never made it out of grade school, but family members said this week that she didn’t care, as she was just waiting to turn 16 so she could quit school.

On May 19, 1928, she married James Lester of the Devon Lester clan. The house the couple built on Neck Path in Springs became her home for the rest of her life. After all her children were old enough to go to school, she went to work as a domestic house cleaner. In her day, she worked six- and eight-hour days at different houses each day. She never used a mop: floors were washed on her hands and knees with a bucket of water and a rag, using a rubber mat to kneel on.

She had many employers in her long career, among them Dr. D.M. Bell, Julia Loper, Alice Kelsey, Ms. Dawson, Mrs. Rellstab, Mrs. Hasbrook—whom she worked for until Mrs. Hasbrook’s death at age 102—Andy O’Brien, Mrs. Marder and her sister, Elsie Gangi from Tony’s Coffee Shop on the Turnpike. She also worked for a time at George’s Inn on The Stretch.

She always spoke her mind, sometimes offending those who didn’t know her well. She took credit for getting Neck Path paved when it was a dirt road, because she got tired of dust on her clean laundry hanging on the line. Survivors noted that she probably had a few choice words for the person she went to see about getting it paved and he was probably glad to see her leave.

According to survivors, her only vices were bingo and swearing, though she didn’t use the words that are heard today on TV. One of her most memorable moments was meeting the performer known as Tiny Tim. Steve Garrett gave her tickets for his appearance at Stephen Talkhouse. She just loved Tiny Tim, especially his hair. She got to go on stage with him and he sang the song “Mary” to her. Afterward she went upstairs and had pictures taken with him.

Another memorable moment was when she beat on the schoolhouse door with a baseball bat. Her daughter had been sick and when she took her to school the doors were locked as no one was allowed in before a certain time. Since she didn’t have time to wait for the doors to open, she started beating on the door.

Family members speculated that there were “some more choice words” when she told he principal that her daughter was not going to stand out in the cold since she had been sick. Her longevity was ascribed to hard work, clean living—she never smoked or drank—and a good life. She was known as a generous person with a big heart.

Mrs. Lester is survived by two daughters, Marie Rea and Annamae Bennett of Springs; a son, Harry Lester of Anchorage, Alaska; seven grandchildren, Sharon Lester, Linda Schellinger, Sandra Vatter, Donna Garrett and Guy Bennett, all of Springs, and Ronnie Bennett of East Hampton and Barrie Rea of Maine; eight great-grandchildren, Duncan and Buzzy Rea, Sarah, Kailey and Nicoke Garrett, Brett and Zach Bennett and Michelle Vatter; and one great-great-grandchild, Alexia Rea.

Her husband, James Lester, predeceased her after only 36 years of marriage. She was also predeceased by one great-grandson, Harry Lester, three sisters, Clara Neugebauer, Katherine Burgos and Elsie Gangi, and two brothers, Fredrick and Russell Grimshaw.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, October 24, at noon at Green River Cemetery in Springs. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Amagansett Ambulance Fund, P.O. Box 50, Amagansett, N.Y. 11930 would be appreciated by the family.