Treasured Martha’s Vineyard healer Jackie Clason died peacefully in her sleep the morning of Oct. 14, 2026, at home with her beloved partner of many years, Mick Stevens. She was 73. Like many others of her generation, Jackie arrived on the shores of Martha’s Vineyard from Springfield in the 1970s without a plan. The Island proved to be the place where she would grow and find her purpose.
That discovery took many twists and turns. Literally. As “Crash” Clason, she was one of only two female participants in the annual Crunch demolition derbies, held on Columbus Day from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. She earned her reputation as a champion, emerging unscathed from a crash that turned her car upside down. She had yet another moniker, Mermaid, her handle during the years she drove a taxi.
In Jackie’s own words, she grew bored with her life, and sought work that would satisfy her yearning for deeper human connection. She developed a thriving practice as a masseuse. Going deeper still, with the support of one of her clients, she attended homeopathy school, since she had benefited herself from this natural healing system. As this practice also thrived, Jackie continued to seek additional ways of healing not just the body but the spirit. She was drawn to the work of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, eventually becoming ordained and receiving the dharma name Friendship of the Heart. Indeed, her heart was huge. She incorporated meditation into her work, and would hold the spirits of those around her in peace and equanimity. One of the secrets behind Jackie’s success, beyond her bountiful compassion, was her discretion, whether it was holding a confession whispered during a massage, or the stories of her patients.
Crash, Mermaid, Friendship of the Heart. These were all parts of what made Jackie who she was — adventurous, always her own self, always open to those around her. She loved the water, body surfing at Quansoo or swimming at Ice House Pond, faithfully attending water aerobics in the company of friends as often as she could. Her dog Dexter held a prominent place in her heart. He could often be found resting under the massage table or at the feet of meditators, or accompanying Jackie for walks at Sepiessa. She took advantage of the rich cultural life of the Vineyard and, often with Mick at her side, attended concerts and readings. She and Mick could be found in town in the mornings, drinking coffee and watching the life around them. In quieter moments, Jackie was captivated by the birds that came to their feeder, a new interest for her. Jackie always welcomed the new, even as her Island roots grew ever stronger.
In the past couple of years, Jackie began experiencing some memory decline. Always the healer not only of others but of herself, she enrolled herself in a dance class and writing course to keep her mind and body active and challenged. At the time of her death she was working on her memoirs. While they remain unfinished, a memorial event in the planning will be an opportunity for all who loved Jackie to tell their own stories of her.
