Martha Susan Laffaye

Long-time Wellington resident Martha Laffaye passed away on April 24, 2016, after a struggle with metastatic lung cancer. Martha was a breast cancer survivor and had recovered from a disabling brain stroke. May she rest in peace. Martha Susan Headen-James was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on April 12, 1938, the first child and only daughter of John Arthur and Maria Magdalena Headen-James. Martha was a direct descendant of 19th century British settlers in Argentina. Her education was at Michael Ham Memorial College, an institution run by Irish nuns. She obtained a degree in teaching and later a Registered Diploma in Nursing. Martha was an outstanding athlete. She was runner-up in backstroke swimming in the National Inter-scholastic tournament and represented her school in field hockey. She played in First Division hockey for the San Isidro Club, being team captain and credited with one international appearance. She married Dr. Horace Laffaye in 1961 and they emigrated to the United States in 1962. Martha taught Spanish at Notre Dame High School, now Sacred Heart University, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and also served as a part-time operating room nurse at St. Vincent's Medical Center. When the family moved to the Boston area when her husband obtained a fellowship at Lahey Clinic, Martha taught Spanish at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, now part of Boston College. Upon their return to Fairfield County in Connecticut, Martha became a Spanish teacher at Kathleen Laycock School, now Greens Farms Academy, and headed the Spanish Department, eventually becoming Head of the Foreign Languages Department. The Annual Martha Laffaye Prize in Spanish was created in honor of her dedication to the school and is given every year at Commencement for the most outstanding Spanish student. She left GFA in 1988 and began a successful career in real estate with Mila Grieb Realty, and later with Coldwell Banker Schlott. Martha was an unabashed leader of the virtues of education. Her motto was "Push, push, for the best!!" Students and her own children were the target of her unremitting "reach for the stars" attitude. In the long run, they all benefited from her counsel. A doer, Martha chaired several benefits at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, including the American Cancer Society, Leukemia Society of America, Save the Children Federation, New England Institute, University of Bridgeport and several other charities. Over the years, she enjoyed accompanying her husband while traveling to surgical meetings in several countries. Martha was a most accomplished hostess. Because of her husband's position as Surgical Department chairman, every week during the academic year a formal dinner was held at the Laffaye's home in Weston, Connecticut. Without fail Martha received a note of thanks for the wonderful evenings and overnight hospitality. The annual pool party for the Surgical House Staff was an event cherished by the hard-working interns and residents in training. Needless to say, all the details were organized by Martha. She continued her practice of sports, playing friendly hockey, golf and tennis. She also participated in car rallies in the Sports Car Club of America, navigating for her husband in winning the New England Rally Championship. In addition, somehow she found time for gardening and needle point works. Martha was pre-deceased by her parents and two brothers, John Herbert "Jackie" and Charles Louis "Charlie." She is survived by her husband; her son Patrick, daughter Gisele, son-in-law Trent Pansze, M.D., and grand-children Martina, Derek and Grace Pansze, Mark and Todd Laffaye, and cousin Lucille Brookes. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, May 7th at 2pm at the Country Club of Fairfield (936 Sasco Hill Road, Fairfield). The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to her grand-children's Animas High School (PO Box 4414, Durango, CO, 81302) or a charity of choice.