Margaret Ann Alexander

Margaret (Alexander) Alexander died on Tuesday after long illnesses and then a short one, all of which she managed with great patience and courage. She leaves her husband Michael (Mick) Alexander and son Mark, both of Newton and her son Grant, his wife Ashley and their daughters, Finley and Zadie, of Santa Fe. Predeceased by her parents and her brothers, John and Bob, she is also leaves her sisters-in-law, Susan (Fort Collins, Colorado) and Margo (New York City), several nieces and nephews and Lois. (Bishop, California).

Margaret was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, a fact that no one who met her as an adult was inclined to believe. Her family settled in a DC Maryland suburb where she grew up. She attended Rice University. In her first semester a friend in the dorm arranged a blind date with a senior, (Mick). After a few fun months he departed to California. She decided he was the one and transferred to Stanford to give the dope another shot. He took it.

She enjoyed 25 years at Bolt Beranek and Newman where the loose norms for behavior and dress matched her own. There, she developed competence working with computers which allowed Mick to abdicate responsibilities galore and remain in the pencil, paper and books world. After BBN (RIP) she worked for a small educational nonprofit for 15 years. She took active roles in several local nonprofit organizations: Children's Village Day Care, AfterCare programs, years of volunteering for Planned Parenthood, supporting her children's school programs, setting up neighborhood activities like block parties and traffic triangle planting and care, assistant "coaching" their sons' youth soccer teams, ESL instruction at the Newton Public Library and her last gig – "editor" of the Upper Falls News.

She was devoted to her family even when we didn't deserve it. She made everyone else's birthdays and graduations and all holidays special. She was never abashed in her childlike enthusiasm for and love of decorations and celebrations. She was devoted to her children. She was funny, light-hearted and generous. She loved her many Cavalier King Charles Spaniels over the years, especially Gibbs, and spoiled them shamelessly. During episodes of depression, she was never a black cloud over others.

She hated to drive if she could walk instead. She loved to bicycle around her parts of Newton and report on new houses and bad paint jobs. She loved Upper Falls as the "local" place where she would always feel at home. Her illnesses were slowly removing her from the active, local life – physically and mentally – that she treasured. We will all miss her terribly.

Cremation and internment will be private. A celebration will be planned after the holidays.

She would appreciate donations to Planned Parenthood or to North Regional Cavalier Rescue or Lucky Star Cavalier.