Jackie Turner died this year. Her memorial service was the other day.

For those who care about Scarborough, its history, what it is today – and more important what it has NOT become in this yuppie suburban landscape nowadays – Jackie Turner was a key figure in the l980s.

She was a Scarborough native, a graduate of SHS in the late l960s, and the sister of three brothers, all of whom played big roles in town for different reasons:

• Donnie, a professional drummer who played with a band named Wild Turkey that was famous for playing just Beatles stuff;

• Vance, part of the first Scarborough High School soccer state championship team in l973, and something that many SHS kids used to be on the side – a clam digger;

and

• Mark, a goalie on the same SHS title team who really could not throw all that well, kick all that well, or catch all that well, but who was – in my opinion in 40 years – the guy who, if I had to win one soccer game, would be in the nets;

Jackie was a person with fervent political beliefs. She was married to the late Lloyd “Jack” Turner, also a merchant mariner, like Vance;

Jackie was a fervent believer in local politics. Two stories that illustrate who she was, what she did, and why she is an important person in the history of the town of Scarborough:

JACKIE TURNER POLITICAL STORY

In the l980s, things were still old school. You ran for office? You sent out letters. Thousands and thousands of letters. Know what Jackie did? She and a handful of volunteer friends routinely either hand-addressed or applied computer labels, and 28 cent stamps, to thousands of envelopes every year in campaigns. Probably 100,000 in the l980s and early l990s.

Remember that scene in the Wizard of Oz – Dorothy and Toto are in the great hall in the Land of Oz, and there is much smoke and much fire and furor.

Suddenly, Toto goes over, yanks the curtain away and inside is just one man, puling levers! That was Jackie Turner in local Scarborough politics in the l980s. People thought there was a big machine that elected me: George Roy, Peggy Pendleton and others? Nope. One housewife, pulling a bunch of levers.

JACKIE TURER REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT STORY

Jackie had fishermen in her family at Pine Point. She knew hundreds of townies. In the l980s, Scarborough became part of the Coastal Gold Rush. In Maine. Condo developers from everywhere rushed here. Tried to build condos on the beach at Old Orchard and Pine Point.

Jackie had two beliefs: A.) Do not displace locals, either fisherman, or residents who suddenly could not afford to live here anymore; and B.) We do not appreciate developers who have so little interest in Scarborough that they build something, cash the check, then leave, never to be seen again.

She had a funny line with them. She would go to public hearings and would always ask the same question to the developer: “Where do you think you will be in 10 years?” The three-piece-suited developer would stutter and stammer.

We who knew her got the point those still here in 10 years need to build a good project they will have to live with. Going back to Haverhill, Mass.? You cared zilch about Scarborough. The Planning Board and Zoning Board got it – with Jackie’s help.

Today, there are 5,000+ Democrats in Scarborough. Unheard of in l983. Today, there are only a few condo projects adorning the waterfront in Scarborough. There could have been 20. Thanks, Jackie.

Good work, kid. R.I.P.

Dan Warren is a Scarborough trial lawyer who can be reached by private Facebook message on the Jones & Warren Attorneys at Law page, or by email at jonesandwarren@gmail.com.