Margaret Adele Snow

SALEM - Margaret Adele Gairdner Snow, of Salem, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on November 17, 2025, at the age of 94.

She was born Margaret Adele Gairdner in Glendale, California on December 24, 1930, the only child of Helen Lucile (Stebbins) Gairdner and Charles "Tudor" Gairdner. She was raised by her mom Helen, Grandma Gairdner, her Aunt Margaret, and her Uncle Max. Some fond memories of her childhood included weekly piano lessons at her Aunt Margaret’s house, summer days on the Santa Monica beach, Brownie Girl Scouts with her best friend Tillie Holve, and attending concerts at the brand new Hollywood Bowl with her younger cousin, Maxine.

She attended Westwood Elementary School, Emerson Junior High, and graduated from University High School in 1948. She graduated from Stanford University in 1952, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and History and served as president of the Associated Women Students during her senior year.

Margaret began her professional career at the Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Company from 1952 to 1957, during which time she opened the company’s first West Coast sales offices in downtown Los Angeles and Palo Alto, California. Margaret married her childhood friend Clayton Bruce Snow in Beverly Hills on June 27, 1953. They raised four children in Encino, California.

Returning to the work force in July 1976, she enjoyed a fulfilling career at Associated Students UCLA (ASUCLA) where she was hired as the executive secretary to the undergraduate student body president. She soon was promoted to the position of Manager of the Student Government Accounting Department and later was promoted to serve as Executive Assistant to ASUCLA’s Executive Director. In those roles, Margaret served as a mentor to hundreds of UCLA undergraduate students, graduate students, and administrators, many of whom she maintained friendships with for the rest of her life. Margaret retired from UCLA in 1996, having most recently served as the Director of the UCLA Student Union and Student Support Services.

Upon the birth of her first grandchild, Margaret relocated to Hollis, New Hampshire, along with her mother, to live in a multi-generational home with her mother, herself, her daughter Margie and husband John and her new grandson Jack. Margaret took great pride in her role as grandmother, caring deeply for both Jack and her next grandson, Nick. Nanny Snow, as she became, lovingly made home-cooked meals including morning scrambled eggs and bacon with blueberries (“brain food,” as she would say), took the boys to hockey practices and saxophone lessons, and frequented Lull Farm for fresh fruits and veggies.

Once her grandson Jack began university, Margaret returned to California. She spent time living with her first two children — Merian and David. She once again enjoyed days at the beach and views of the Hollywood Hills. She also kept in close contact with her son John, enjoying his many stories of adventure as he traveled around the globe for film and television productions.

In 2019, Margaret moved back east to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, eventually settling in Salem, Massachusetts at the John Bertram House. Her beloved grandson, Jack, and her bonus-granddaughter, Bridie, took her on as many adventures as possible — amongst her favorites were outings to the Peabody Essex Museum, shows at the Cabot (especially the Glenn Miller Orchestra), Halloween festivities, scenic drives around Cape Ann, cozy dinners in front of the fireplace at Nathaniel’s and cruises on the Schooner FAME.

Margaret’s outgoing personality attracted dear friends throughout every stage of her life, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her — especially her special friends: Bob Alvarez, Hap Blaisdell, Bob Donovan, Dean Florez, Marie Heinz, John Kimball, Kathleen Levy, David Lowenstein, Jerry Mann, Geraldine Martin, Thomas and Mary Jane Merritt, Mark Panatier, Anne Pautler, Anna Porter, Lisa Maranto Raigosa, Jason Reed, Janice Schock, Teresa and Robert Sengstaken, Norma Clark, Ricky and Trish, Sandy Sinclair, Liz Tractenberg, Willard Tressel, Carole (Cid) Zaima, Christopher Zyda, Irene Johnson, Kenn Heller, Lyle Timmerman, Bobby Grace, Rob Clarke, Janis Bishop and the late Nancy Jane Clark, — as well as the wonderful and caring staff at the John Bertram House in Salem, Massachusetts.

At age 92, Nan wrote a book with stories about her life. When asked: “What do you think is the meaning of life,” she responded:

“Don’t give up! None of us have a plan. Life just happens. We learn from experience with the guidance of our parents, family members, and trusted friends and teachers. As I look back, it is the everyday, ordinary way that my grandmother, Nanna, talked to me, listened to me, explained to me, and showed me - that gave me the framework that I call “Life.”

Margaret was predeceased by her husband, Clayton Bruce Snow, on February 13, 2003. Margaret is survived by two daughters: Merian Snow and Margaret Sengstaken and her husband John Sengstaken; two sons: David Snow and his husband Mark Donoghue, and John Snow; four grandchildren: Jack O’Connell and his wife Bridie O’Connell, Nicholas Sengstaken, Madison Snow and Grant Snow; and extended family members Ann Stebbins Sidles and Maxine Del Gallo.

ARRANGEMENTS: There is no funeral service, per Margaret’s wishes. Private interment will take place at a later date in Lincoln, Nebraska. Assisting the family with the arrangements is O'Donnell Cremations - Funerals - Celebrations, 84 Washington Square, SALEM. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in memory of Margaret Adele (Gairdner) Snow to UCLA UniCamp, 2131 John Wooden Center, Los Angeles, California 90095-1612.