Theodora Myers Bagg, 94, of Christmas Cove and Needham, Mass., died Nov. 6 in the company of her two daughters, Priscilla B. Donham of Head Tide and Perrin B. Heard of Christmas Cove.
Known as Teddy to her friends and Grammy to her six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, she was a woman of enormous energy. At age 88 she traveled to Machu Picchu, following which, she boated down the Amazon River.
She was born almost 95 years ago in Elizabeth, N.J. to Edward Allen and Theodora Winslow Myers. Her education took place at the Vail Deane School, Kent Place School, and Smith College, from which she graduated in 1937. At Smith, she won many academic and athletic prizes and became Treasurer of her class, a position she held for decades. That same year she married Aaron Moore Bagg and, after a wedding trip to Europe, settled in Holyoke, Mass., the home of her husband’s family. In 1955 they moved to Dover, Mass. where she was a regular member of The Dover Church for over 50 years. Her husband died in 1971.
Family, music and tennis were her passions. All her grandchildren and great-grandchildren received gifts of piano and tennis lessons from her. She took many of them to the Boston Symphony where she held season tickets for decades. Until back surgery sidelined her, she was a regular competitor on the tennis courts, beginning as a young child. She won the Ladies Singles Tennis Cup in Christmas Cove 18 times, the first time as a 16 year old. The trophy was subsequently named the Teddy Bagg Cup and she awarded it annually through the summer of 2010. Maine held a special place in her heart for 83 years, beginning in Alford Lake Camp in Hope. She transmitted this affection to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, most of whom joined her for all or part of each summer.
Until very recently, she was an active member of a play reading group, a book club, the Dover Garden Club, and a thrice weekly Bridge player. Her remarkable memory and facility with numbers made her a sought after partner and a formidable opponent. Perhaps her principal legacy will be her relationship with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she taught much: correct English, social graces, sailing, fishing, rowing, knot tying, a desire for doing the best you were capable of and an appreciation for enthusiasm.
Funeral services 10 a.m., Thurs., Nov. 18 at The Dover Church, Dover, Mass., her 95th birthday.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Damariscotta River Association, P.O. Box 333, Damariscotta, ME 04543.
