Faith Desmond

Faith Desmond of Quincy died at age 74 on July 24, 2018 after a long illness. She was born in Boston to the late William H. and Mildred (Kennedy) McNeill.

Faith was educated in local schools and graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art. After college she did many things, from teaching art to selling Colman’s mustard in Faneuil Hall.  Her Boston employers included the National Society of the Colonial Dames and the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

Faith was a long-time resident of Beacon Hill. She was an active member of The First and Second Church in Boston and the Friends of the West End Branch of the Boston Public Library. She was president of the Friends for several years. Faith also volunteered her design skills  to a number of Boston non-profits.

She liked to travel to cities in the United States and abroad. Quebec City, San Francisco and Glasgow were among her favorite places. She also liked Penn & Teller, reading The New Yorker, baking cookies and watching late-night TV.

She leaves behind Robert E. MacKay, her partner of over 35 years, and David Letterman the Cat, one of the many stray and shelter animals that Faith protected and loved over the course of her life.

Funeral arrangements are private. In memory of Faith’s kind heart, please consider a donation to the Animal Rescue League of Boston.