Maria Martell Winthrop
Maria Martell Winthrop, age 63, passed away surrounded by her loved ones on Thursday at Mass General Hospital after a courageous 12-year battle with breast cancer. She is remembered for her amazing strength and courage, ever present positive attitude, gratitude, living life to the fullest extent, kindness, and as a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.
She is survived by her beloved husband and best friend, Earl, of 41 years, her two sons Lucas and Max and his dear girlfriend Kelly Thomas, her dog Nils, her parents, Sture and Gun-Britt Martell (Helsingborg Sweden), and her siblings, Urban and Niclas, best friends Jeanette, Ulf, Philip, Henrik, Victoria and Adam Samuelsson, and brother and sister in laws and nieces and nephews in Sweden and Boston. Maria is forever and always with us.
Born in Gavle, Sweden, Maria grew up in the Artic Circle area. From a very young age, Maria was very active and had a profound appreciation for nature and the outdoors. An avid skier, she was on the Swedish National Alpine team and traveled throughout Europe. She loved being in nature and outdoor activities including hiking, skiing, and swimming. Even while undergoing treatment for cancer, she trained and competed in sprint triathlons and trained and traveled with Max and Lucas to their alpine ski races all over Europe and the US.
The true story of Maria’s life is told through the inimitable love and kindness, inspiration, and optimism she carried with her every day. According to Maria, there was never bad weather if you dressed properly – she appreciated every moment of life and encouraged others to do the same. She made it her mission in life, to help others, specifically those undergoing cancer treatment. In 2018, Maria cofounded The MGH Breast Cancer Innovation Fund with her oncologist Dr. Steven Isakoff (whom she adored). In reference to the fund Maria said, “”If you have hope, you have more power to endure and overcome the challenges presented.”” Despite her brave and courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer for 12 years, Maria was a beam of light, rising up to all challenges, always with the brightest smile in the room providing positive energy and a source of hope for so many people she touched.
We will be eternally grateful to Dr. Steven Isakoff, Jane Miller NP, Dr. Alphonse Taghian and the entire MGH Breast Cancer team for all of the amazing care, support, compassion, and love they provided Maria and her entire family. And her friendship and guidance from Ron Young, her dear friend Tal Cohen, Dr. Sarah Bacus, Dr. Debu Tripathy, Dr. Ralph Russo, Dr. Anju Nohria, Dr. Greame Steele, Dr. Nalini Chilkov, Dr. Steven Van Dam, and Victoria Barry (her “”Special angel”” that was by her side).
Maria was an active member of the Boston Swedish Community, Swea Boston Education Association, the MGH Patient Advocate Committee, various other philanthropic and cultural organizations and a member of the University Club of Boston and the Downtown Boston Chabad House.
Maria cofounded The MGH Breast Cancer Innovation Fund with Dr. Steven Isakoff in 2018 and the family requests that any donations that one wishes to make should be made to the fund in memory of Maria Martell Winthrop to https://giving.massgeneral.org/stories/winthrops-scalp-cooling/.
If you were lucky enough to have been touched by Maria’s everlasting light and energy, you know what she wanted. She wanted her life to be celebrated. That is exactly what we will be doing for her. We will celebrate her with the past, the present and include her light in all future memories, because she will always be with us.
The family is so very appreciative of the outpouring of support and love shown. A private funeral will be held for family members only.