Polly McLane Lit, 92, died peacefully with family members at her side on April 30, 2010 at RiverMead Retirement Community in Peterborough, NH.
Polly was born Mary Andrews Smith in Braintree, MA on October 25, 1917, the daughter of Ralph and Margaret Smith. She graduated from Thayer Academy in 1934 and Phi Beta Kappa from Wellesley College in 1938, then taught school in Mississippi before returning to a legal secretary job at Hale & Dorr in Boston. New Hampshire became her home when she spent the WWII years as secretary to Joe Dodge at the Appalachian Mountain Club in Pinkham Notch, at the foot of Mt. Washington. Polly loved that experience, and it was there that she met Peter McLane.
Polly next worked as secretary to the headmaster at Holderness School, and she and Peter were married in the school chapel there in 1946.
Polly and Peter lived in Sugar Hill and Manchester, where they raised their four sons. She returned to work as Executive Assistant to the Director at the Youth Development Center, then at UNH’s Merrimack Valley Branch, and finally, into her 70’s, at the Webster House for Children, all in Manchester. After Peter McLane died in 1970, Polly developed an interest in watercolor painting and stained glass work, and was able to travel several times with Elderhostel groups.
In 1991, Polly married David Lit, and lived with him in Washington, D.C. and Campton, NH before moving to RiverMead in Peterborough in 1996. In their short time together they enjoyed many trips, Polly’s favorite being an around-the-world journey on a ship with Semester-at-Sea. David Lit died in 1996, and Polly spent her remaining years with the wonderful, caring community at RiverMead.
Polly is survived by her sons Andy, Bruce, Douglas and their families, plus eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. They were all inspired by her devotion to her family.