Newburyport - Saddened but inspired, we say goodbye to our dear mother, grandmother, friend, co-

worker and muse Meg de Give. Independent, creative, flirtatious, funny, intelligent and

iconic, Meg instantly commanded every room she entered with her regal British accent,

striking good looks, and disarming charm.

Born of Irish Heritage in the UK in 1939, Meg was adopted as a baby by British parents

and moved with her family to New England as a teenager. After college at the

University of Toronto, Meg spent years working in hospitals including Mass General and

Addison Gilbert.

In 1972 she married Paul de Give and moved back to Boston where she worked at

the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Her final position in Boston was with

Pathfinder International – a nonprofit dedicated to women's health.

After apprenticing with some famous Boston chefs, Meg found herself in the world of

Nantucket restaurants, first at Straight Wharf Restaurant and later as

manager of Provisions. She became not only a top pastry chef and restaurateur, but an

early pioneer of strong women in the competitive world of commercial kitchens.

In 1985 her friend Richard Simpkins of the Grog suggested she choose Newburyport to

open Middle Street Foods. The café rapidly became a local favorite, and Meg became

famous for her cakes and other sweet treats embracing the title, Queen of Tarts.

After selling the cafe Meg found a home with the Mass Audubon Society, managing

volunteers and helping run the visitor center. The Audubon was her happy place and

she spent many years there, travelling and making many friends in the birding

community. A talented painter, she was engaged in Newburyport's art community and in

her later years always had a few works in progress on display in her sunny studio.

Meg is survived by her daughter, Ariane, sister, Felicity, granddaughters Sasha Kannan

and Sofia O'Connor, great-grandchildren, Kavia Kannan and Owen O'Connor, Justin

Radulski and John Coyle and many friends in Newburyport.

A celebration of life will be held at the Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center on August 15. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Mass Audubon Society.