ROCKPORT — It is with great sadness that the van der Kieft family of Rockport, Maine, announces the passing of Marcy Moore van der Kieft, wife of Peter E. van der Kieft, at the Sussman House in Rockport during the early hours of  May 9, 2020, from cancer.

Born August 24, 1943 at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, Marcy and her sister, Susan, with professional musician mother and actor/producer father, both of whom were in the entertainment industry, traveled numerous times between East Coast and West Coast before settling permanently in Darien, Connecticut.

Lovingly known as “Mince, Minnie and Ween” Marcy attended Low-Haywood School, Stamford, Connecticut, and graduated from Darien High School and Lasell Junior College Auburndale, Massachusetts, where she majored  in Fashion Design and Management.

Throughout her education Marcy participated in anumerous activities: Volleyball, crew, tennis, golf, field hockey and cheerleading. Marcy’s high school musical interests were in cappella groups and Girl’s Glee Club.

Her musical appreciation ran the gamut from Classical, Broadway Show Tunes, to Jazz, to Soul and Doo-Woop. James Brown had a special place in Marcy’s musical appreciation, and included a James Brown Boston concert. Some were lucky enough to witness the spontaneous James Brown impersonations Marcy performed on special occasions.

Marcy was predictably, unpredictable, impulsively sketching a bouquet of flowers worthy of a gallery showing, to carding a hole in one, to article consultant for Town and Country Magazine, to preparing Spanish paella, chili dogs, roast beef or apple pie worthy of James Beard Foundation awards. Having outfitted the wife of a renowned Maine Coast artist who was preparing for a visit with Queen Elizabeth on Majesty’s Yacht Britannia Marcy dashed home and gave her a pair of her shoes for the ‘’finishing touch.”

Marcy seemed to have it all.

Marcy’s introduction to Maine was memorable and educational; she spent six years at her beloved Camp Arcadia for Girls in Casco, where she excelled in canoeing, theater, choral, and gained the confidence instilled by her mother, Margo Moore Myers, to forge into a successful field of retailing.

In April of 1972, after serving as Associate Fabric Editor for Mademoiselle Magazine, and being a part owner of Margo Moore, Darien, Connecticut, Marcy opened Margo Moore in Camden, Maine.

A Camden Herald article at the time of opening referred to Marcy as, “a gal with sophisticated allure who's cool no nonsense voice has an aura of capability about it.”

Margo Moore eventually morphed into Maine’s highly respected interior design, home furnishings store.  In the 1970s and 1980s Marcy opened Margo Moore’s Cricket Shop and Margo’s Market in Damariscotta.

During the “women’s lib” era, Marcy forged ahead with confidence and flair on her own. Seemingly born into retailing and decorating, it was “Marcy’s touch” that family, friends, and clients depended on.

Marcy had a love for travel and enjoyed recounting her journeys to Croatia, on African safaris, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Turks and Caicos and Europe (which for Marcy included running with the bulls in Pamplona).

An active member of Megunticook Golf Club in Rockport, Marcy served as Chair of the House Committee and a member of the Nominating Committee. Over the years Marcy refined her golf game with laughter and determination at Megunticook. Marcy sponsored the briefly held Miss Piggy Open at the club.

The proudest moments of Marcy’s life were with her family members: Son Christopher, daughter in law,Christine Bouvet van der Kieft, granddaughters Grace Catherine and Madeleine Margaret of Hingham, Massachusetts; daughter, Megan and husband Frank Carozza, grandson Lucca Mark, and granddaughter Frankie Margaret, of Camden, Maine.

Marcy’s greatest joys were family gatherings spent on the “blue chairs” in the family backyard, Sunday drives with her husband, Peter, her gardens, cooking, humming birds, and companion dogs. 

Marcy leaves behind niece, Jackie M. and husband, Walter Maxwell of Trumbull, Connecticut; niece, Paige Murphy Jordan, grand-niece, Carly A. Jordan and grand-nephew, William T. Jordan of Monroe, Connecticut; and her close canine buddy, Osbourne.

Marcy was predeceased by her mother, Margaret Moore Myers; sister Susan Murphy; brother Timothy O. Moore; granddaughter Stella  Margaret Carozza; niece Aliza M. Murphy; and her lovable companions, Boswell, Teeka, Buttons, Tasselhoff and Roscoe.

Marcy was the spark that energized everybody she met.

A private family burial will be held in Seaview Cemetery in Rockport. A Celebration of Marcy’s life will be announced in the future.   

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Camp Arcadia Scholarship Foundation, C/O Anne Fritts, PO Box 225 New Vernon, NJ 07976.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting Marcy’s Book of Memories at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.