How Quincy's 'environmental treasures' lady became treasured by the city

QUINCY − Sally Owen thought she was arriving for another monthly Environmental Treasures Program. This one extra special because Mayor Thomas Koch was leading the group walk through the city's popular and versatile Merrymount Park.

The mayor, who grew up in North Quincy, filled the leisurely walk with fun facts and anecdotes and then gathered the 40 people outside the offices of the Quincy Department of Natural Resources at 1 Merrymount Parkway for the wrap-up.

That's when Owen got her surprise.

After 23 years of finding environmental treasures in the City of Presidents to share with the public, Owen found herself being celebrated as the treasure of the day.

"We've had this lovely lady Sally Owen doing this for a long, long time," the mayor said. "We want to conclude today by honoring Sally because she's got a big birthday."

Owen opened her mouth, began laughing and covered her mouth in shock.

"I didn't say how old, I didn't say your number," the mayor said. "Let's all sing together. And Maura has arranged for some cake and refreshments."

Everyone sang and headed over to a table under a tree for cake and other treats arranged by Owen's volunteer assistant, Maura O'Gara. O'Gara, who lives with her family in Quincy, had a blue T-shirt made for Sally that reads "Our Favorite Environmental Treasure. "

A basket held free Friends of Sally Owen collector pins for people to take; the pins had a drawing of the car-less Owen on her bike, which she rides everywhere. O'Gara began to cut the cake.

"If we had put the candles on, we would need a fire detail," the mayor joked.

"Sally is just such an amazing person and she has such a joie de vivre for life," said Patti Williams, a Houghs Neck resident who has led several tours. "She has touched so many people in so many different ways. She really lives the life she wants to live and she takes other people along with her."

Owen first proposed the treasures tour program to Koch in 1999 when he was head of the city parks department. David Murphy, now executive director of the city's Department of Natural Resources, was Koch's assistant. She led the first tour on Earth Day in 2000 and has pulled together 240 programs over 23 years.

The programs have all been free. Many are geared toward families with children.

And that, the mayor noted, is not all she has done. In his proclamation declaring July 9, 2023, to be Sally Owen Day, the mayor said the Louisiana native started her street's annual block party decades ago, as well as monthly potluck suppers "using at least one local ingredient."

More recently she organized weekly poetry, meditation and birding groups. During COVID, she and a friend walked the same marshland route weekly to reflect on the changes of the seasons.

"Sally's love for Quincy's unique environment inspired her to create the monthly environmental treasures tours," the mayor said. "And her enthusiasm has not waned over 23 years."

In 1985, Sally Owen was 37, an attorney who wanted a change of scenery and a change of profession and moved to Quincy.

The first weekend tour, in April 2000, was to see the daffodils at Peace field, the Old House where John and Abigail Adams lived, in Adams National Historical Park.

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The tours still combine nature walks and historical themes, but they also have a strong environmental focus. She has partnered with the Thomas Crane Public Library, local civic organizations such as the Neponset River Watershed Association and state and city agencies. The tour leaders are volunteers who are experts in their fields, or citizens who have developed an interest in a special topic.

Over time, she brought the public's attention to garden clubs, the Quincy Quarry Workers and Granite Museum, and the former Swingle's Quarry in West Quincy. Some 200 people turned out in March 2012 for that tour; many had relatives who once worked in the Quincy granite industry.

Tom Palmer, of Milton, led a tour along the Neponset River. Steve Cantelli gave a program on different granite monuments and former granite workers buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in West Quincy. Les Tyral has led geology tours in the Blue Hills Reservation and Quincy. Jack Walsh and Mary Smith put together a tour of Nut Island State Park and a program on how Houghs Neck residents worked with the state to transform flat land into drumlins and a sweeping wildflower hill.

Owen has said her best sign of success is when tour-goers "show as much passion as the volunteer tour leaders" for the subject. She also enjoys people coming up to her afterwards and saying they've "lived in Quincy all their lives and never knew these places existed."

When she turned 70 five years ago, she decided to celebrate the start of a new decade by planning a series of new adventures and outdoor activities with friends. She biked, canoed, kayaked, hiked and sought new escapades. What will 80 bring?

"I hope to still be doing the tours," she said.

Remembering Al Meserve, a true gentleman

I met Al Meserve eight years ago when I began cycling with a group from Southeastern Massachusetts and quickly learned the gentleman who often rode at the back was extra nice and always interesting. He was a good, strong rider; he led a 20-mile ride on the Blackstone River Bikeway; his weekly mileage inspired me.

Al always stopped to help people, had a good sense of direction and would watch for cars coming up behind us, calling out "Car back!"

Once I was trying to make a video as I rode one-handed. I was wavering and slow. Al waited for me to catch up and rode behind me, just in case.

Al died July 2 at age 88 at his home at Linden Ponds in Hingham, where he and his wife, Edna, moved last year. We surely miss him. Thank you, Al.

Reach Sue Scheible at sscheible@patriotledger.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: 'Sally Owen Day' celebrates one of Quincy's treasures