Catherine Stewart Gulman

Catherine Stewart Gulman of Newburyport, MA passed away at her home at Atria Merrimack Place on January 24, 2023, at the age of 86. 

Born in Hackensack, N.J., she was the daughter of George and Mildred (Francis) Stewart. Raised in Ridgewood, N.J. and Suffren, N.Y., she enjoyed many childhood getaways to Leetes Island in Guilford, Connecticut.  

Mrs. Gulman graduated from the Mary A. Burnham School in Northampton, MA where she was recognized as a member of the National Honor Society in 1954. She attended the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, and later continued her education at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. 

After working in the residential real estate business for several years, Mrs. Gulman had a distinguished career as the marketing director for several assisted living facilities, including Country Club Heights in Woburn, MA; North Hill in Needham, MA; and Spring House in Jamaica Plain, MA. She was an empathetic leader and compassionate advocate for her elderly residents. She was involved in her community as a member of the Junior League in Lexington, MA, and as a volunteer at the Fernald School in Waltham, MA, and McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA. 

In a remarkable coincidence, Mrs. Gulman was married three times to gentlemen by the name of Philip (Messrs. Swaebe, Nectow, and Gulman). She had three children with Philip I: Jeffrey Stewart Swaebe of Norfolk, MA; David Fitzgerald Swaebe of Newburyport, MA; and Scott Francis Swaebe of Atlanta, GA. She inspired all of them with her charisma, her clever turn of phrase, her athletic abilities, her contemporary musical taste, and her independent spirit. 

In addition to her three sons, Mrs. Gulman is survived by her sister, Gaye Stewart Wakefield of Jacksonville, FL; her grandchildren, Jean Catherine Swaebe (and her husband Akhthar) of Chicago, IL; Dylan Fitzgerald Swaebe of Boston, MA; and Carter Henry Swaebe of Boston, MA; her nieces Lynne Wakefield Jansen of Jacksonville, Fl, Wendy Wakefield Johnson of Denver, CO, Carole Wakefield Bell of Atlanta, GA; her nephew Robert Wakefield of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; and her daughter-in-law, Constance O’Donnell Swaebe of Newburyport, her best-friend and caretaker to the very end.  

Mrs. Gulman will be buried privately alongside Mr. Gulman at Beersheba II Memorial Park in Sharon, MA. A memorial service for friends and family will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Newburyport on February 25, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

Special thanks to the staff of Atria and from Elara Caring for their compassion. 

Arrangements are by Twomey, LeBlanc & Conte Funeral Home in Newburyport (www.tlcfuneralhome.com). 

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Gulman’s name to Elara Caring Hospice Foundation - https://support.elaracaringhospicefoundation.org/give/423737/#!/donation/checkout  or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - https://www.cdceportal.va.gov/donate_at_facility/

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