NORTHAMPTON - A memorial gathering to celebrate the life of George Markham will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, at 2 p.m. at the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence, 220 Main St., Northampton. All are welcome.

George died on Oct. 25, 2009, at the age of 100. He was born on Aug. 15, 1909, in Independence, Wis., the son of the late John and Eleanor (Brown) Markham. He was predeceased by his first wife, Helen (Wendler) Deane, and his two brothers, Arthur and Richard Markham. He leaves his wife of 40 years, Rose "Arky" (Aisenberg) Markham.

After graduating with a degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin, George worked at various newspapers before settling in Boston. In the Navy during World War II, George served with distinction as an air combat intelligence officer on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander. After the war George returned to school at NYU, where he received a Ph.D. in history. He taught in New York and Massachusetts colleges and remained in academia until retiring. George moved to Northampton with Arky in 1971, and spent the last decades of his "retired" life steeped in political action, social justice/anti-war work, and tireless efforts in support of single payer health care.

In lieu of flowers, Arky asks that contributions be made to the Warren Plaut Charitable Trust, for the Markham-Nathan Fund, P.O. Box 943, Northampton, MA 01061, or to UHCEF (the MassCare Campaign for Single Payer Health Care), 33 Harrison Ave., 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02111.