Molly T. Aitken

Molly Bennett Aitken Strouse entered eternal peace on Tuesday morning, June 3, surrounded by her loving family. Born on July 25, 1943, Molly was the daughter of Mervin Dreux Bennett and Valre Vasilas. Molly was raised in Hollywood, California, where her grandparents Adolph and Grace Seidel worked for MGM Studios during films golden era of the 1930s and 1940s. Grace was a well-known hairdresser who styled hair for stars like Mae West, Hedy Lamarr, and Jeanette MacDonald. Molly often joked that as a child she played under the desk of Louis B. Mayer himself. She was an avid dancer and was taught to tap dance by the legendary Eleanor Powell. Her next-door neighbor, Roy Rogers, the famous cowboy movie star, taught her to yodel.

During her childhood, her grandmother Grace and her mother Valre nurtured her lifelong passion for equestrian pursuits. She was an accomplished rider in both Western and English disciplines. The legendary Jimmy Williams trained her in Show jumping and coached her in open jumpers alongside her schoolmates Poncho and Pee-wee Frankel on the California Sunshine Circuit when children could still compete against adults.

As a teenager, Molly went on to have her own radio and variety show in Las Vegas called the Rounders Club. She later toured nightclubs with Nat King Cole and served as the opening act for Joey Lewis at the Copacabana in New York City. During her time in the Big Apple, she appeared on the Joe Franklin Show and was spotted by world-famous scientist and inventor Alvin Melville Marks. Joe later introduced the two and they married after a whirlwind romance in 1965. They had four children: Bridget Grace Marks, Sean Christopher Marks, Frederick Peter Marks, and Jacqueline Lee Marks. They lived in Oyster Bay Cove, Long Island, where Molly became an active fundraiser and socialite, organizing many “A”-rated horse shows and charity events with her partner, Gloria Reinach. Molly founded Riding Programs for the Handicapped in the early 1970s. She also served as President of the North Shore Auxiliary of the United Cerebral Palsy Association.

Molly’s love for horses took her up and down the East Coast with her eldest daughter, Bridget, who was also an avid equestrian. During this time, Molly met and fell in love with Gerard James Aitken III. After her divorce from Dr. Marks, Molly married Gerard Aitken in 1978. The couple relocated to Litchfield, Connecticut, where they ran Somerset Stables in Morris, Connecticut. They had two children, Gerard J. Aitken IV(Gerard preceded Molly in death in 2023) and Mary Hannah Aitken. The family moved to Athol, Massachusetts, in 1979. In typical “Molly Fashion,” her new husband, Gerard, became close friends and ultimately business partners with her first husband, Dr. Marks. Together, they were industry leaders in the burgeoning fields of alternative and solar energy.

Molly was also present at the Stonewall Riots in New York City in 1969 and was a longtime member of the Stonewall Veterans Association, serving on its Board of Directors. Molly’s hobbies included showing horses and collecting antiques. She never met an auction or a pricey face cream she didn’t like.

Molly touched the hearts of everyone who crossed her path. She was a trailblazer and a fashion trend setter and will be remembered for her exquisite Chanel suits paired with Birkenstocks. Her best friend, the former movie star and now nun, Mother Dolores Hart, of Elvis movie fame, was deeply saddened to hear of Molly’s recent passing.

Molly led a fascinating, exciting, and multi-faceted life. Ultimately, she found joy and peace in Athol, Massachusetts, with her life partner of the past few decades, nightclub impresario Kelly Dunkle.

She is survived by her daughters, Bridget Grace Marks, Jacqueline Lee Marks and Hannah Stone Aitken (Rolando); her sons Sean Christopher Marks (Melissa) and Frederick Peter Marks. She is the grandmother of Amber Lynn Aylsworth, Scarlett Lee Aylsworth, Sean Marks Jr., Lucais Marks, Frederick Marks II, Alexander Marks, Gerard James Aitken V, Layla Guyette and Isabella Guyette. She is the great-grandmother of Charlotte Marks, Lilah Marks, Maevi Marks, Emma Marks, and Delaney Marks.

The Marks/Aitken family invites family and friends to join them in a celebration of her life. The calling hours will be Wednesday, June 11th, from 11:30 AM to 12:45 PM at Mack Funeral Home 110 New Athol Rd., Orange, MA. Following this, there will be a Mass at Our Lady Immaculate Church 192 School St., Athol, MA at 1:00 PM.

Flowers are welcome or if you would like to make donations, Molly loved Catholic Charities and the North Shore Animal League of Long Island, NY.