Wareham remembers Rep. Susan Williams Gifford

From cranberry growers, to the Select Board, to Damien's Food Pantry and even the Boy Scouts, people from across the Wareham community shared memories of 2nd Plymouth District Rep. Susan Williams Gifford who died last Tuesday, Oct. 22.

Beginning her political career in Wareham, Gifford served on the Select Board for three years prior to winning her first campaign for state representative in 2002 as a Republican.

Cindy Parola served on the Select Board with Gifford and remembered that her work in Wareham helped launch her campaign for state representative.

Renee Abbott, who also served with Gifford on the Select Board remembered her as “very connected” to the Wareham community.

“I’m just very sad to hear of her passing,” Abbott said. “It's a great loss for the entire community.”

During her more than 20 years in office, Gifford often worked on initiatives that directly impacted Wareham.

As a member of the cranberry industry revitalization taskforce, which formed in 2016 to combat the financial crisis in the cranberry industry, Gifford and the other members of the taskforce wrote recommendations to address the crisis.

Brian Wick, executive director of the Cape Cod Cranberry Grower’s Association, said it was “fortunate” the recommendations were implemented.

“This was work that has really made a significant impact on the rural population in helping to pull us out of that economic downturn we were in,” Wick said. “She played a vital role in making it all happen.”

Wick added Gifford “really cared” about the people she served and wanted to make a difference in their lives.

“She really understood the cranberry growers of Massachusetts and felt that she was part of the industry, and she was. She helped to improve their lives,” Wick said.

More recently in her political career, Gifford worked on planning and funding for the construction of a new location for Damien's Food Pantry.

“Damien’s Pantry is indebted to Susan’s logistical and financial support,” said Damien's Food Pantry President Anita Rigassio Smith.

Smith added Gifford earmarked $100,000 for the construction of the pantry which opened its doors in early 2024.

Every year the Wareham Boy Scout Association troop-39 requests a citation from the government for the scouts who achieved the eagle rank. For the past 20 years, Gifford has been involved with the eagle ceremony for each Wareham scout.

“Representative Gifford has been fantastic. She very seldom has missed a ceremony itself in all those years,” said Kim Carman, Troop 39’s chartered organization representative. “Even when she wasn’t able to attend she would send someone from her office or at the very least she would hand deliver the citation to my house.”

Carman said he could count on one hand the number of eagle scout ceremonies Gifford missed.

Wareham took a moment of silence to remember Gifford at Town Meeting on Monday, Oct. 28. Select Board Chair Judith Whiteside listed Giffords many accomplishments and her impact on Wareham and the district.

“The legacy of her work will continue to resonate within the 2nd Plymouth District and beyond leaving an indelible mark on the communities she proudly served,” Whiteside said.