Elsa, daughter of Martha Beach Neitzke and Oscar Fredrick Neitzke, was born in Cambridge, Mass., in 1932. She was a 1953 graduate of Guilford College. Elsa resided for many years in Manchester, Mass., where she was active with the school committee and the Manchester Jr./Sr. High School.
A member of the Quaker Friends meeting in Cambridge Elsa’s firm social conscience and strong moral compass led her to a life of activism and volunteerism. Elsa helped organize anti- nuclear protests in the 1970s and volunteered her editorial and organizational skills to education reform initiatives for numerous nonprofit organizations. She loved choral music, gardening and environmental conservation of wild places.
In pursuit of her passion for photography, Elsa traveled to Tibet, Bhutan, India, Russia, China, New Zealand and the western United States and her beloved coast of Maine.
Elsa, who had attended summer camp at Alliquippa House in Small Point returned to Maine where she continued her work in education as administrative coordinator for the Physics Department at Bowdoin College. Appreciating simplicity in all things and with a commitment to sustainable living, Elsa designed and built a passive solar home on the New Meadows river near Cundy’s Harbor. Elsa’s home was featured in an article in Fine Homebuilding Magazine as a model of energy efficiency.
Elsa received the Art Longard Award from the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment for her unflagging work and dedication to restoring the tidal flows around Dingley Island through the construction of a bridge to replace the turn-of-the-century causeway that was causing the tidal flats to be filled with silt. After seven years of fundraising and partnership development, the community along with Gov. John Baldacci, celebrated the opening of Elsa’s Bridge on Oct. 1, 2003.
Elsa subsequently turned her organizational and community development skills to help rescue the Cundy’s Harbor working waterfront from real estate development. As a co- founder of the Holbrook Community Foundation, Elsa helped the Foundation raise $2 million to purchase, renovate and manage the four properties, thus revitalizing the commercial fishing wharf, the restaurant and residential properties that comprise the Cundy’s harbor waterfront.
While living in Harpswell, Elsa was inspired to collect and record oral histories of the community’s older residents. In 2010, Elsa researched, edited and published these oral histories in “ Cundy’s Harbor Voices: Memories of growing up in the village,” along with a collection of historical photos.
Elsa is predeceased by her beloved daughter, Barbara Ellis Martz.
Elsa is survived by her brother, Frederic W. Neitzke of Cincinnati, Ohio; her daughter, Nancy B. Martz of Gorham, Maine; her son, David B. Martz of Manchester, Mass.; son- in- law, Steven H. Parrot; and grandchildren, Elsie Parrot, Jacob Martz, Lucas Martz and Anika Martz.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in Elsa’s name may be made to the Natural Resources Council of Maine, 3 Wade St., Augusta, ME 04330.
To share a message of condolence with the Martz family, please visit www.brackettfuneral- home.com.
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