Margie H. Haven

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Margie Hale Haven died early Friday morning, January 14, leaving behind many loving members of the family, including her two children, a daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren as well as innumerable friends.

Margie was born and brought up near Buffalo, New York. As a teenager she was active in school affairs and particularly in outdoor experiences such as camping. She was an excellent swimmer, a skill passed on to her two grandchildren. In 1943 she married E.O. Haven (known as Bud), who was a Lieutenant in the Signal Corps in World War II, and she moved with him throughout the country in his several different posts.

They first visited the Vineyard in 1965 and moved here shortly thereafter, first living in their Campground Cottage and subsequently building together a lovely home in West Tisbury where she lived for 30 years.

Margie’s interests were many and included gardening, cooking, sailing, and other Island pursuits and activities, in particular early leadership with the public mediation program in which she remained active until almost the very end.

A few years ago she was awarded a Massachusetts State-sponsored Certificate of Appreciation at the annual meeting of the Mediation Group in Edgartown. She was one of the founders of the Vineyard Nursing Association (VNA), volunteered for the Martha’s Vineyard Community Service Thrift Shop in Vineyard Haven, and was a dedicated member of Habitat for Humanity. Her interest and enthusiasm for whatever she was involved in was magnetic over the course of her nearly 90 years.

Perhaps Margie’s most wonderful characteristic was her interest in people. She was never happier than when she was involved in a discussion of the importance of some particular program or organization for the betterment of the Island or the town, or even of a single individual. She touched many Islanders, both native and “washed ashore,” and everyone with whom she was associated in any way will remember her personal friendship and well-wishing.

Her husband Bud died in 1990 and ten years later she married Tom Hale. They had known each other as members of the Unitarian Church and as sailors and boat lovers for a number of years, and a marriage between the two of them seemed to be a natural outcome.

Margie will be sorely missed, but those who knew her will always remember her happy smile, the passion of her convictions, and the encouragement that she passed on to others.

There will be a memorial service at 1 pm on Saturday, February 5, at the Unitarian Universalist chapel on Main Street in Vineyard Haven, and a reception will be held afterwards at a location to be announced later.

It is suggested that in lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to make a contribution do so to the Polly Hill Arboretum or Sail Martha’s Vineyard.