Madelaine (Maddie) Hart

Madelaine (Maddie) Hart February 16, 1937 – October 28, 2025

Madelaine “Maddie” Jones Hart, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2025, at the age of 88. 

Born on February 16, 1937, in Rochester, MN, Maddie was the daughter of Dr. Herbert Maltby Jones and Olive Robinson Jones. She grew up in Auburn, NY, alongside her brother, Herbert (“Brud”) Jones. 

A devoted mother and wife, Maddie is survived by her husband of 67 years, John (Jack) Cushman Hart and three children: Doug Hart (Chris), Jen Hart Ludington, and Lauren “Laurie” Hart; and eight adored grandchildren: Ben, Jacqui, Emily, Claire, Jack, Sari, Cooper, and Buggy. 

Maddie met the love of her life, Jack, as children in Sunday School. Years later, their friendship blossomed into a lifelong romance. High school sweethearts, they married on July 5, 1958, shortly after Maddie’s graduation from Smith College. Together, they built a life filled with love, laughter and adventure, living in Schenectady, NY, and Annandale, VA, before settling in Wellesley, MA, in 1969, where they raised their family and remained for 32 years. 

Maddie had a deep commitment to education and helping others. After serving as an admissions officer at Wellesley College for nine years, she founded her own private college consulting business, guiding countless students and families through one of life’s most important transitions. She also gave generously of her time to many volunteer organizations in her community. 

In 2001, Maddie and Jack retired to New London, NH, and Savannah, GA, dividing their time between the mountains and the coast, two places they loved deeply. They eventually settled full-time in Savannah, where they enjoyed countless rounds of golf, and Maddie proudly managed to shave a few strokes off her handicap. She was also an avid bird watcher, finding joy in the beauty and variety of the coastal wildlife. In 2020, Maddie and Jack moved to the Park Springs retirement community in Stone Mountain, GA, where they joined a warm, supportive community and had access to the care she would need in later years. 

An avid traveler, Maddie found great joy exploring new places with Jack, whether venturing abroad or discovering hidden gems closer to home. Her favorite vacation, though, was the two weeks each summer she spent hosting her children and grandchildren in Cape Cod. Maddie was an enthusiastic tennis player, earning the top spot on her local tennis ladder, as well as a devoted reader, needlepointer, knitter, golfer, and Nantucket basket maker. Always active, curious, and eager to learn, she even took up skiing at the age of 40 with her husband and children, a family pastime that led to cherished weekends at their ski house in New Hampshire, a memorable Christmas in Alta, UT, and a New Year’s adventure in Austria. Maddie was also known as the family “dog whisperer,” finding endless happiness in the company of her beloved golden retrievers.

Her strong Christian faith grounded her life, and her gentle spirit touched everyone she met. Maddie was an incredible listener, always ready to offer a compassionate ear or thoughtful advice. She was kind and loving, with a quiet strength and an occasional touch of stubbornness that those who knew her best found endearing. Maddie’s warmth, wisdom, and grace will be deeply missed by her family and friends, but her legacy of love and faith will continue to shine through all whose lives she touched. A celebration of Maddie’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org or a charity of your choosing.