About Marcia
Marcia was born on October 22, 1966, in Barre, VT to Linda and Lyman Amsden. A life-long Vermonter, Marcia was fortunate to attend Bradford Elementary School, Oxbow Junior High School, Barre Town Middle School, and was a member of the Spaulding High School class of 1984. She graduated from the University of Vermont in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Economics. During the same period, she studied at the London School of Economics. She later received a master’s in Business Administration from Boston College Carroll School of Management in 1995.
She was an incredibly successful business woman. She began her career in Malden, MA at The Bank for Savings in the management training program. Early in her career she garnered respect from her colleagues and quickly rose to the top of her field serving as Director of Corporate Employment for Bank of Boston. Following the birth of her son, she moved to Vermont where she continued to work in the banking sector as auditor for Vermont Bank Service Corp. She went on to consult for a number of Vermont financial institutions. In 2001, she and John embarked on the journey of owning and operating BCK Real Estate. Together they expanded from a single office to several offices throughout northern New England with over a hundred dedicated agents and employees. She served as the Chief Financial Officer and Operating Manager for the company and was instrumental in the success and growth of the business.
Public Service and Community Involvement
Marcia was a dedicated member of the Barre community and was committed to improving the lives of children. She served for 11 years on the Barre City Elementary and Middle School Board and chaired a local committee for the Danforth Foundation, which was created to help local communities study their school systems and decide what improvements could be made in their public schools. Other projects she facilitated included sitting on the committee to find a location for Barre’s new elementary school, creating a scholarship for high school seniors, and developing and implementing an afterschool program, and served as co-chair of the local March of Dimes chapter. As a young mother she always served as the classroom mother, chaperoned many field trips, fundraised for Project Graduation and welcomed so many children and teens into her home.
She also cared deeply about the future of Vermont. She was appointed by Governor Douglas to serve on the Public Oversight Commission. She also served as one of the original board members for the Barre Granite Museum. Marcia believed in serving those less fortunate. She sponsored low-income families at Christmas and organized donations for victims of Hurricane Irene, countless floods, and fires. Marcia was instrumental in fundraising and procuring millions of dollars in charitable funds to projects around the community over the past three decades. Marcia was steadfast in her faith and was proud to have been baptized and married as a parishioner at St. Monica Church.
Family & Friends
Marcia will always be remembered for her kindness. She brought joy, laughter, and love to every person she touched. As a friend, she was relentlessly loyal, positive and available at any time someone needed her. As a leader, she was a mentor to her employees and went the extra mile to take care of their families, letting them use her home for weddings, creating memorable and often once-in-a-lifetime experiences for their kids, and providing sage counsel. She will be known for her ability to make friends anywhere and make every person she met feel welcome, loved, and safe.
Marcia will also be remembered for her hospitality. She loved having a house full of people and especially loved cooking for them. She enjoyed making boundless amounts of food for her family on the holidays, hosting big parties for her staff and friends, and most especially having as many of her kids’ friends as possible over at the house.
Marcia found immense happiness in her family, believing that her children were her greatest legacy. In her roles as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and great aunt, she consistently showed her love and support. She made sure to personalize events and gatherings for each family member, ensuring that everyone felt cherished and valued. Her presence brought a sense of warmth and love to every moment shared with her family.
