Marilyn “Merry” Reynolds Duffy Touborg, 77, director of communications for the Office of Human Resources from 1990 to 2004, passed away on March 3.
Born on April 14 1944 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Touborg was the daughter of the late Robert Lee Reynolds and Virginia (Bowman) Morgan. After a childhood living in many different places across the country, she received her bachelor of arts degree in English from Smith College in 1966. She, and her first husband Laurence Duffy eventually settled in Brookline. Before her time at Harvard, Touborg built an accomplished career in communications in the executive branch of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, first at the State Ethics Commission, then for the Department of Public Utilities.
Touborg is survived by her husband of 32 years, Jens Touborg of Sherborn, and her two sons Matt Duffy of Melrose and Neal Duffy (wife Allison) of Swampscott. She also leaves behind four stepchildren, Meg Touborg (fiancé Arthur Hodges), Annie Ward (husband Bill), Sarah Horn (husband Greg), and Peter Touborg (wife Deena).
Arrangements are under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Holliston, www.ChesmoreFuneralHome.com. There will be a celebration of life on April 2, at the Unitarian Universalist Area Church, 11 Washington St., Sherborn. Further details will be posted on the funeral home website. In lieu of flowers, donations in Touborg’s memory may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.