Priscilla Townsend Grant

CAPE ELIZABETH – Priscilla Townsend Grant, 84, died peacefully on March 2, 2025, after suffering a stroke. She was cherished by family and friends for her grace, empathy, sharp intellect, and ability to listen without judgment.

She will be intensely missed by her husband, David Wend; her daughters Karen Flood and Deborah Flood, her son-in-law, Michael Benedek; and her grandchildren, Elliot Koeppel, Oscar Benedek, and Ashe Benedek.

Raised in New Canaan, Conn., Priscilla spent her adult life in New York City, N.Y., and then in Portland and Cape Elizabeth. After graduating from Smith College in 1962, she launched a career that reflected her passion for the written word, culture, and the exploration of ideas. She began her publishing career at American Heritage and Horizon magazines and then moved on to senior positions at Esquire, Vogue, and Glamour. In her mid-50s she relocated to Portland and transitioned to full-time writing, including features on women’s health and a mystery novel.

Priscilla was a nature lover who enjoyed many summers with her daughters Deborah and Karen and later with her husband, David Wend at a family camp on a lake in Maine. She was a woman on the move, loving walking, yoga, biking, and dancing. Indeed, she and David met on the dance floor and were swing-dance aficionados. Committed to social justice, Priscilla was a devoted ACLU supporter and served as the chair of the social services committee at Riverside Church in New York City, N.Y.

A celebration of Priscilla’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on March 29, at Hobbs Funeral Home in South Portland.

Condolences may be expressed online at http://www.hobbsfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Civil Liberties Union.