HANNAH WARD MAGOUN

MIDDLEBURY — Hannah Ward Magoun of Middlebury passed away peacefully with family at her side on Aug. 14, 2024.

She was born on December 12, 1940, in Boston Mass., to Andrew Henshaw Ward and Carol Eddy Ward. She is survived by children: Mark Niles and Lori Pidick of Denver, Colo.; Lisa and Fred Bisbee of Huntington Vt., John-O Niles and Elsa Cleland of San Diego, Calif.; Lisabeth Magoun of Charlotte, N.C., and Martin Magoun of Topsham, Vt. She leaves behind seven grandchildren: Meredith Magoun and spouse Alex Grosby, Griffin and Alexandra Niles, Eloise and Quinn Bisbee, and Maxwell and Finnegan Niles. She is survived by her brother Andrew Ward of Savannah, Ga., her sister-in-law Suzanne Ward of Middlebury, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Clinton Magoun, her brother Artemas Ward, and her parents.

Hannah attended Milton Academy and Beaver Country Day before graduating in 1958. She graduated from the Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing in 1962. Hannah was a Registered Nurse in Massachusetts, Colorado, New Jersey and New Hampshire before settling in Vermont.

Hannah bravely moved to Middlebury, Vt., in 1970 as a single mom with three kids and all her belongings in a station wagon, to be near her brother Artemas and his family. She soon met her second husband, Clinton Magoun, when her washer broke down and he made a service call late one Sunday afternoon with jellybeans for her three young children. They were married June 15, 1974, and began their adventures, canoeing on Otter Creek, racing the Allen at the Middlebury Snowbowl, ice boat yachting, floating in the ocean, and many deck parties at their camp on Lake Dunmore’s south cove. Hannah and Clint and friends modified an oak feed bucket into a wood-fired hot tub, which they towed from Waterhouses to the camp behind the family’s waterski boat.

Hannah and Clint’s other passion was travel. Whether it was visiting many national parks and campgrounds in their bright yellow Type-Rite van, or traveling through Europe with friends and family. Hannah instilled a deep love of travel and adventure in all her children and grandchildren. Throughout their escapades, the Magouns were joined by many dear family friends, including the McLaughlins, the Kanes, the Thurbers, Jean Andrews and many Middlebury Union High School teachers.

After a stint at Porter Hospital, in 1971 Hannah started her 32-year career as the Middlebury Union High School nurse. Hannah’s optimism, sense of humor and touch of puckishness were infectious. She found the good in everyone and was an inquisitive friend, regardless of your age. As a bedrock of Addison County, she doled out medicine, advice, food and compassionate counseling to thousands of teenagers across multiple generations. She earned her Nurse Practitioner degree from Northeastern University in 1981, one of the first school nurses to do so. In 2000, she was awarded the Vermont State School Nurse of the Year by the National Association of School Nurses. Hannah played an instrumental role in advocating for school nurses and successfully led efforts to have nurses petitioned to be paid the same as teachers.

In addition to raising her own family, Hannah took many young adults under her wings and into her home. These included Martha Commins, Gabriel Uribe, Kim Miller and Charles Seidel.

In retirement, Hannah volunteered for various organizations, climbing ladders to feed eaglets at Dead Creek Wildlife Preserve, delivering Meals On Wheels for almost a decade and helping senior citizens with their taxes. Her crisp gin and tonics were legendary, perhaps so visiting friends could tolerate her mediocre cooking (except for her excellent coleslaw). Hannah moved into the Residence at Otter Creek during the first year of the pandemic, where she continued to make friends and bring laughter to those around her in poker games and at meals.

Hannah’s family is forever grateful for the caring staff at Porter Hospital and the Residence at Otter Creek. Donations in her name can be made to Middlebury Regional EMS or Pandrillus Foundation, P.O. Box 10082, Portland OR, 97296.

A celebration of life will be held at Thanksgiving. ◊