The First 90 Years: Vicki Simpson and Anne Marsh – Pine Tree Society was more than just a job

This is a story of two friends in Bath, Maine, whose lives became woven into the fabric of Pine Tree Society. As the organization celebrates 90 years of service, Vicki Simpson and Anne Marsh sat down to reflect on a legacy built on saying “yes” when the rest of the world said “no.”

In the quiet coastal town of Bath, Anne Marsh and Vicki Simpson share more than just a neighborhood; they share a lifetime of memories from Maine’s most enduring disability services organization: Pine Tree Society.

Vicki Simpson, an Occupational Therapist, arrived in 1981. At the time, Pine Tree Society was still finding its footing in a rapidly changing landscape of medical and educational laws. “I told them they needed an OT,” Vicki recalled with a smile. “And talked the executive director into hiring me.”

Vicki began as a contractor, visiting Pine Tree Camp for one-day consultations. Her mission was simple: “Tell me what you need, and we’ll make it happen.” She worked with carpenters in a program called the Kids Project, where volunteers crafted custom wooden adaptive equipment, modified wheelchairs and build specialized t-stools for families at little to no cost.

“We even did a car seat program,” Vicki recalled, noting that if there was a gap in safety or mobility for a child in Maine, Pine Tree Society filled it. “Pine Tree Society wasn’t made to do just one thing. The goal has always been to help make everything fully accessible for everyone.”

Vicki noted that the unique nature of Pine Tree Camp was central to this mission. In its early years, camp sessions lasted for most of the summer. “It’s amazing,” Vicki said. “Pine Tree Society has had so many kind donors providing money, land and services to keep camp running for over 80 years.”

Camp began in 1945 before public laws mandated school-based services. For many campers, this was the only time and place they received therapy. Vicki remembers how in the 1980s she worked with adults whose only therapy services in their entire lives had been from those summers at camp. “For many, it was the only therapy they’d get until they returned to camp the following year.”

During the 80s, Anne Marsh joined Pine Tree Society in an administrative role. She ultimately served as Executive Director from 2005 until she retired in 2013. Over the decades, she saw the organization greatly expand in the types and quality of services provided and in the number of children and adults receiving those services.

“Pine Tree Society always looked for what the community or state needed,” Anne said. “Every time there was a need identified, Pine Tree Society worked to try and meet that need.”

Under her leadership, the organization tackled one of its most ambitious projects: a master plan to rebuild Pine Tree Camp. The goal was to modernize aging buildings and essential infrastructure to ensure the facilities matched the high level of care campers needed. This included the construction of the dining hall, wellness center and the iconic tree house.

She recalled a time when Pine Tree Society was the only answer for many Maine families. Before laws mandated services in schools, Pine Tree Society therapists were in Head Start centers and private homes, often working with children in co-treatment sessions where Occupational, Physical and Speech therapists worked together for maximum impact.

Anne also oversaw the Kids Project and expansion of services for the hearing impaired. She remembers the incredible donor base that made this all possible and how she spent years traveling the state to meet supporters.

“The critical part of Pine Tree Society’s history are the donors,” Anne said. “We wouldn’t have been able to do what we did without them. Staff, families, donors, the people we provide services to; all ‘discovering abilities together’.”

For these two neighbors, Pine Tree Society wasn’t just a job—it was a calling to ensure that every Mainer, regardless of ability, could lead a life of passion and purpose.

For 90 years, Pine Tree Society has been a pioneer in creating possibilities. This major milestone—90 years of discovering abilities together—is a testament to our incredible community, and we’re celebrating all year long. Our monthly spotlight series, “The First 90 Years,” shares personal stories spanning nine decades of life-changing experiences.