Obituary of Thea Convissar Putnam

Thea Convissar Putnam died November 23 from complications related to pulmonary fibrosis. She is survived by her husband of 28 years, Philip Putnam her stepdaughter Andrea Putnam and her granddaughter Zoey Putnam Boyd, and her brother, Michael Convissar. Born in Brooklyn August 5, 1944 to Gussie Rosen and Murray Convissar, Thea lived her entire life in New York City before moving with her husband to Essex in 2004. An early adopter of personal computer technology, she founded MGT Services, a desktop publishing and office support organization in midtown Manhattan. For eighteen years, MGT provided a variety of office support services for all manner of organizations from the New York Stock Exchange and the annual Tony Awards to casting agents and television scriptwriters and a host of sole practitioner accountants, lawyers, and small businesses who were located in Manhattan's Columbus Circle area. Thea loved dogs. Josie, a lab-boxer mix from the Bideawee Animal Shelter was her constant companion at MGT, passing judgment on the "likeability" of customers as they entered the office. Thea often noted that Josie's instincts were "excellent." Prior to founding MGT, Thea worked for several years as a union election supervisor for The American Arbitration Association, a job that required travel throughout the country to various union election sites. She also worked with a wide variety of people as an office manager for a temporary staffing agency in Manhattan and for a large permanent placement agency specializing in staffing administrative openings in that city's many advertising agencies. After retiring to Essex, Thea became an active member of the community, putting her energy and significant business and people experience to work in volunteer efforts. She served on the Boards of the Essex Historical Society and the Essex Land Trust, as well as volunteering for the local Child and Family Agency. In recent years pulmonary fibrosis increasingly limited her activities but she never lost her love of life, her enthusiasm, and her pleasure in being with her friends and family. Thea will be missed by the many friends she made in the community who appreciated her warmth wit and generous nature. Most of all she will be missed by her beloved husband Philip, her stepdaughter Andrea and granddaughter Zoey. Funeral services will be private. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to Yale University with a designation to support the "Yale-ILD Center," or The North Shore Animal League.