Priscilla Endicott of Harvard, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on June 22, 2024 with family at her side. She was 95 years of age. Priscilla, known to most as "Pep", was a longtime philanthropist, beloved for her charm, warmth and generosity. Daughter of Priscilla Maxwell and H. Wendell Endicott, it was her father who drew her into his world of opera, travel, hunting and horseback riding. She was passionate about music as she attended and supported the Metropolitan Opera Company, Boston Opera Company and The Boston Symphony Orchestra during her earlier life in Boston. She served on the Boards of the Boston Opera Association and the New England Conservatory of Music. After she moved to the Harvard area in 1972, she became a frequent concert goer at Indian Hill Music (now Groton Hill Music Center). She served as a dedicated Board member for 15 years, including two years as Vice-President and four years as President. It was her confidence in the organization that helped pave the way for the creation of Groton Hill Music Center and its new state-of-the art facility in Groton, Massachusetts.

Most of all, Priscilla loved horses. When she attended the 1968 Olympics to watch the equestrian sports, she was introduced to the sport of dressage.  It was ballet on horseback, and she immediately fell in love.  Dressage was in its infancy in this country. So, in her usual determined style, Priscilla set out to find the best local trainer and build a network of dressage riders and trainers.  That soon led to her founding the New England Dressage Association in 1972 with several dressage friends.  Priscilla served as NEDA's first president for 20 years, and NEDA quickly became the largest dressage organization in the country.  Priscilla's farm, the Ark, also became a hub of high-level learning and training as she brought in some of the top European dressage trainers to give clinics at the Ark and, as a result, significantly raise the bar for American dressage standards.

To pursue dressage even further herself, Priscilla accepted the invitation of Walter Christiansen, one of Europe's dressage masters, to come train with him for a year at his facility in Tasdorf, Germany.  At the age of 50, Priscilla immediately hired a tutor to start learning German then soon went to Germany for a year with her horse Inca. Her book Taking Up the Reins is an inspiring and insightful memoir about that year.

Priscilla was also dedicated to her town of Harvard and passionate about the issue of land conservation.  She served as a Trustee on the Harvard Conservation Trust for over 20 years, and she played a key role in protecting several significant parcels of land.

Priscilla graduated from The Madeira School, attended Sarah Lawrence College and Wellesley College, and wrote occasional pieces for the New York Herald Tribune. She is survived by her three daughters, Katrina Wollenberg, Francesca Okerlund and Cricket Potter, grandchildren Carolyn and Robby Miller, Eric Okerlund, Andrew and Blake Wollenberg, Haley and Dagma Potter, and three great grandchildren.   She is predeceased by her three ex-husbands Richard Moulton, Brooks Potter, and Russell Hergesheimer as well as by her brother Bradford Endicott and her half-sister Martha Frasch. A Celebration of Life is being planned.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in memory of Priscilla would be most appreciated. Near and dear to Priscilla's heart were two organizations:

New England Dressage Association

Education Scholarship Fund

c/o Cathy Liston, Treasurer

902 Sligo Road

North Yarmouth, ME 04097

neda.org/donations

&

Groton Hill Music Center

122 Old Ayer Rd.

Groton, MA  01451

grotonhill.org