MARGARET MARY KIMMEL

KIMMEL
MARGARET MARY
Margaret Mary Kimmel, known as "Maggie" to her friends, was born May 12, 1938, in Gary, Indiana. Maggie was a Librarian, Literary Researcher, Literature Advocate, Professor, Children's Book Author, and Freelance Writer. She died on Tuesday, June 10, 2014, after a short battle with leukemia. She is survived by a sister, Cathy, who lives in New York City; and a brother, Mike, who lives in Houston. Dr. Margaret Mary Kimmel was Professor Emeritus in the Library and Information Science Program at the University of Pittsburgh, where she was Chair for nine years teaching graduate courses related to children, literature and the provision of library services. She lectured extensively in the United States. As a visiting professor at the college of Librarianship Wales, she visited libraries and library education programs in Great Britain, West Germany and France. She was a guest of the French Ministry of Culture in Paris and spent time in Spain for the State Department. Her writing includes Magic in the Mist, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman and For Reading Out Loud! with Elizabeth Segel. She edited a series of children's books for the University of Pittsburgh Press, the Golden Triangle Books, set in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. Dr. Kimmel worked as an advisor to "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," appeared as storyteller, and was a Fellow of the Rogers Center for Media and Early Childhood at St. Vincent's College in Latrobe, PA. Other affiliations and chairmanships include the Carnegie 100 and the Advisory Board of Beginning with Books. She chaired the "Best Books for Babies" Committee for 13 years. She was Chair of the Board of Directors of Canterbury Place (an active residence for elders), and on the board of trustees for the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. She served with numerous boards affiliated with UPMC, including the Board of Visitors and the Board of Senior Communities. She was Chair of the Advisory Council for the UPMC Disability Resource Center and spearheaded efforts to improve access to healthcare for people with disabilities. Maggie served as secretary for FISA Foundation, and co-chaired the grants committee, working to improve the lives of women, girls, and people with disabilities. Arrangements by the THOMAS L. NIED FUNERAL HOME, INC., 7441 Washington St., Swissvale. A Catholic Mass celebrating her memory will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2014, at 10 a.m., St. James Catholic Church, 718 Franklin Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Donations in memory of Dr. Margaret Kimmel For children's books: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Development Office, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 or Canterbury Place, 310 Fisk Street Pittsburgh, PA 15201.
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