Decatur House is honored to celebrate a remarkable milestone, the 100th birthday of resident Jean Macklin, who has been part of the Decatur House community since 2018.
Jean was born and raised in Leominster, Massachusetts, the youngest in a close-knit family that meant everything to her. She shared a particularly special bond with her older sister Christine, her lifelong best friend, who herself lived well into her 90s herself. Jean was also deeply connected to her brother Raymond, the father of her nephew David Bourque, who recently shared stories of Jean’s life and legacy.
As a teenager, Jean met the love of her life, Gordon, known affectionately as “Mac.” They were married for an extraordinary 61 years and built a life together in Clinton, Massachusetts. Jean spent 40 years working as an executive assistant at a cereal manufacturing company, while Mac worked in construction. Though they did not have children of their own, they were surrounded by a large, loving extended family and played an outsized role in the lives of their nieces and nephews.
Jean and Mac were true partners. They did everything together, especially traveling. Cruises were a favorite, taking them throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, and across Europe. After retiring in the late 1950s, they purchased a home in Yarmouth, bringing them closer to David and his wife Linda, who live on the Cape. When Mac passed away, Jean remained fiercely independent, though David and Linda were always nearby when support was needed.
Jean lived on her own until 2018, when a fall and a broken shoulder led her to Decatur House. Since then, she has embraced it as her second home. According to David, Jean has lost none of what makes her who she is — her sharp mind, strong opinions, quiet sense of humor, and practical outlook shaped by growing up during the Great Depression. She is positive and fun, outgoing yet modest, and not one for a lot of fanfare. “Be careful,” David says with a laugh, noting Jean still has plenty to say and plenty of wit to deliver it.
As a younger generation remembers, Jean and Mac were the fun aunt and uncle at every holiday, arriving with treats, candy, and toys, and later continuing that tradition with their great nieces and nephews on the Cape. Those memories, full of generosity and joy, still define how Jean is cherished today.
We are proud to celebrate Jean Macklin, a woman of resilience, partnership, family, and quiet strength, on her 100th birthday, and grateful to share this milestone with her here at Decatur House.
