Carolyn D. Damp Shannon

Carolyn D. Shannon passed away on Saturday, March 16th at Salem Hospital, surrounded by her family, after a brief illness. Mrs. Shannon, a resident of Marblehead since 1955, was married for 48 years to her beloved husband, Dr. James M. Shannon, who predeceased her in 2003.

Carolyn Patricia Damp, 82, was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the only child of Frances (Pope) and Ralph E. Damp. She spent her childhood in Oklahoma and Illinois, where her father was a chemical engineer with Standard Oil. She enjoyed traveling the country with her parents, especially touring the National Parks, and fly-fishing with her father in Colorado. She moved with her parents to Havana, Cuba in 1943, where she attended Ruston Academy. Later, the family settled in New York City where Carolyn graduated from The Spence School. She attended Sweetbriar College in Virginia, and Barnard College in NYC, where she studied English. She was a graduate of Tobe’-Coburn School in NYC, and was a fashion merchandiser with Bonwit Teller, before working in radio with ABC studios in New York.

Carolyn loved being the wife of a surgeon, with whom she raised four children. She was actively involved in charity events for Salem Hospital, and was a gracious hostess who enjoyed entertaining people from all over the world in her stately oceanside home. The doors were always open for friends and soon-to-be friends, including many surgical Residents who trained with her husband at Salem.

Carolyn was an amazing cook who enjoyed learning and sharing new cuisines with her family. Dr. and Mrs. Shannon enjoyed traveling the world together, meeting people of all cultures, and inviting them to their home. Carolyn was an accomplished painter who studied under the late Marian Brown. She was an avid reader, and in her younger days, was a passionate gardener and flower arranger. Carolyn was a member of the Old North Church, The Winter Garden Club and a former member of the Marblehead Neck Association, Corinthian Yacht Club, and the Eastern Yacht Club.

Predeceased by her eldest child, James Menzies Shannon, jr., she is survived by her children, Elizabeth and husband Kevin Weiss; Campbell and wife Cynthia Shannon; Melissa and husband George MacDonald; daughter in law, Ann Keane Shannon, and 13 grandchildren: Caroline, Victoria, and Nicholas Weiss, and Emily and Andy Salsky; Tay and Zara Shannon; Collin, Robert, and Farren Shannon; Grace and George MacDonald; and Treigh and Bevan Worrell Shannon. Also, nieces, nephews, and many who considered her a second mom.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, March 22nd from 6 to 8pm at Eustis & Cornell Funeral Home, 142 Elm St., Marblehead. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 23rd, 1pm, at the Old North Church, Marblehead. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge, tigercreek.org, or to the animal charity of your choice.