Marilyn A. Jordan

Marilyn Jordan was born in Bradford Hospital in Bradford, Pennsylvania on August 15,1951 to Donald and Josephine Jordan from Limestone, New York, a small rural village in southwestern New York state. Her early years were raised on a dairy farm. Typical for a family farm, she and her siblings all had different responsibilities. She spent a good deal of time in the kitchen learning skills from her mother. As a result, she became a great cook and baker, pies being one of her specialties. She spent many hours playing outdoors with her siblings and carried her love for nature, birds, and wildlife throughout her life.

Marilyn attended Limestone Union Free School, a two-story building with grades kindergarten through 6th on the first floor and grades 7th to 12th on the second floor. Her mother graduated from the same school and with some of the same teachers. Marilyn’s high school class was the largest graduating class ever with 36 students. After graduating in 1969, she went to college in Geneseo, New York to become a teacher. It was there that she and 9 other women became a lifelong ‘sisterhood’ of friends who have kept in touch since meeting each other on the first day of their freshman year. In May 1973 she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education and Elementary Education from State University of New York College at Geneseo. Following her dream to live near the ocean, she moved to the North Shore area of Massachusetts, found her first teaching job, lived with two roommates who became lifelong friends, and spent the rest of her life in the North Shore.

In 1973 she began teaching special education in Danvers, Massachusetts and later at the Alternative High School. After returning from a year long trip traveling in Australia and New Zealand in the early 1980s, she continued teaching in various private special educational facilities. Eventually she left teaching special education to pursue her interest in school administration as the Director of Special Education Program in Burlington, Massachusetts. In 1993 she completed a master’s degree in School Administration from Salem State College. Her first job as a Vice Principal was at Raymond High School in Raymond, New Hampshire where she worked for 2 years.

In the summer of 1997, she began working as an Assistant Principal at Andover High School (AHS) in Andover, Massachusetts. Marilyn was a legend at AHS. She was loved by staff, students, and parents. Marilyn was best known for her heart of gold, her positivity, great sense of humor, connections with staff, and most importantly her advocacy for the students. She was also AHS’s number one cheerleader, rarely missing an athletic competition, school play, concert, or school dance. Marilyn could often be found during basketball games rooting for the AHS Warriors in the student section fondly known as the “Jungle”. Many people’s best memories from Andover high include a “Miss Jordan story”. Marilyn retired after 19 years at AHS in 2016.

She met her future husband, Carl Demikat, at a Great Gatsby party in 1991. They were married in 1994. They shared a home in a lovely rural area of Newbury, MA for 26 years. She loved all variety of birds that visited their assortment of bird feeders. It was a short drive for her to enjoy numerous sunrises from the shores of Plum Island. She was passionate about supporting local famers, buying fresh produce and eggs directly from them. Family and friends visiting Marilyn and Carl, particularly those from landlocked areas of the country, enjoyed great seafood and sightseeing to their beloved areas, especially Plum Island, Gloucester, Nubble Lighthouse and coastal trails in nearby Maine.

Marilyn lived life out loud, laughing and loving with all her heart. Her quirky antics were endearing and true to who she was. Her stubbornness on the other hand could be exasperating at times. She loved connecting with people. She could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere. Family and friends were her everything. She loved music, going to concerts, dancing, taking walks, taking pictures, doing crossword and jumble word puzzles, spending time at the Newburyport library, and spontaneous adventures.

Marilyn died peacefully at home on August 22, 2024. Family is grateful that Marilyn was able to join a family gathering the weekend before her untimely death. She touched many lives and will live on in our hearts and memories.

Marilyn is survived by her brother, Ray (Jean) Jordan, her sister, Sharon Jordan, nieces, Stephanie (Lonny) Packard, Amanda (Chris) Pugh, Alyssa Annico, Kara Jordan, grandnephews Jordan (Breanna) Packard and Sawyer Packard, a grandniece, Thalia Pugh, several cousins and their families, many close and dear friends, her former husband, Carl Demikat and his family, and his niece Emily Demikat and nephew, Matthew Demikat. 

A celebration of life honoring Marilyn’s legacy will be held on Sunday, September 15, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist, 26 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the National Audubon Society, Diabetes Association, or a charity of your choosing.

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