CAPE ELIZABETH —Marion J. Guthrie, 75, of Cape Elizabeth, died June 14 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice after a battle with cancer.

She was born in Rochester, N.Y., on April 1, 1937, the eldest daughter of Anthony and Beatrice Sciortino. Guthrie was educated in the Little Falls, N.Y., school system where she played volleyball and was active in music and theater arts while in high school.  She earned a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Albany in 1959 and her master’s degree from Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y., in 1968.

Prior to becoming a full-time mother and homemaker, Guthrie taught English at Sewanhaka Central High School in Floral Park, N.Y. 

Guthrie moved to Cape Elizabeth with their two sons in 1975, where she became very active in the community. She served as chairwoman of the Cape Elizabeth Planning Board and, along with her husband, was among the founders of the Cape Elizabeth High School hockey program. Guthrie was a docent in the Portland Headlight Museum and a volunteer in the Portland Headlight Museum Shop.

Guthrie served as trustee and was twice president of the Delano Park Neighborhood Association. She also co-authored a comprehensive history of Delano Park entitled The History of Delano Farm and Delano Park. Guthrie was also an accomplished abstract artist and painter who always found inspiration in the stunning natural beauty of Maine.  

Guthrie was predeceased by her parents and a sister, JoAnne Graudons.

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Francis J. “Bud” Guthrie of Cape Elizabeth; two sons Drew Guthrie of New York, and Brian Guthrie and his wife, Susan, and their two children, Caitlin and Brendan, all of Cape Elizabeth.

The Guthrie family would especially like to thank the Maine Center for Cancer Medicine, Maine Medical Center Emergency Room personnel, and the people of Gosnell Memorial Hospice in Scarborough for their extraordinary kindness and demonstration of professional excellence. 

A memorial was held at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Cape Elizabeth on June 19. Internment followed at Riverside Cemetery in Cape Elizabeth. After the memorial and interment, a reception was held at Portland Country Club in Falmouth.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Guthrie’s memory to the American Cancer Society or the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust. 

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