NAHANT — Beloved resident Calantha R. Sears died on Wednesday at 103 years old.
Born on Oct. 17, 1921, with her family dog underneath her parent’s bed, Sears became a local icon and the embodiment of Nahant’s history. Sears’s inspiration to nurture her passion for local history was rooted in her childhood, when her grandmother told her old stories of local residents and their journeys traveling around Nahant.
Sears lived her entire life in Nahant, attending Nahant elementary and middle schools, before going onto Lynn Classical High School, where she graduated in 1938. In 1944, Sears married her now deceased husband, Winthrop E. Sears.
She was a part of numerous organizations and committees throughout her life in Nahant, such as the Bicentennial Committee and Nahant Historical Society (NHS), which was founded Jan. 18, 1975. She was also the first president of the board of NHS and volunteered until 2024. Calantha Sears devoted her time to being librarian for Nahant Public Library and the public schools.
Sometimes, her parents would move the family into her grandmother’s house for the summer, so the home could be rented for the people who came to escape the summer heat. This period of her life proved to have a big influence on Calantha Sears, as her grandmother’s stories were the catalyst for the creation of the Nahant Historical Society. Over time, Calantha Sears became a wealth of knowledge regarding the town’s history.
“She was the best of Nahant,” Lynne Spencer, longtime friend, said.
“Every day that she lived, she didn’t just enjoy it, she would make a gesture, or do something kind from somebody,” Spencer said. “She wanted to share her joy, she was such a kind, generous woman.”
Spencer recalled her first time hearing of Calantha Sears back in 1990. She was editing “Nahant on the Rocks” by Stanley Peterson and Carl Seaburg, which was dedicated to Calantha Sears. The book sparked Spencer’s curiosity about Calantha Sears, who served as the embodiment of Nahant’s history.
“She was like the historian of Nahant,” Spencer said. “Every building or house had a story to her, but it was because of the people who lived inside those places that were so interesting to her.”
Spencer said Calantha Sears’ family was a source of support throughout her life. “She had a huge family, and they were all loving.”
Calantha Sears is survived by her four daughters, Melinda, Lucy Jane, Libby, and Cindy. She leaves behind seven grandchildren, one great-grand-child, as well as many friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Win, her sister Lucy, her brother Albert, and her grandchild Diane Pomeroy.
A celebration of life will be held at the Nahant Village Church on Saturday, Dec. 14., at 11 a.m. Arrangements will be made by Solimine Funeral Home. Donations may be made to Nahant Historical Society and the Nahant Village Church.
