Margarete Reif

Margarete (Eberhardt) Reif died 14 October 2025 at the age of 93 from complications of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
Margarete was born in Moessingen, Germany on 28 February 1932, the youngest of 4 children of parents Robert and Grete (Wolf) Eberhardt. She, along with siblings Hermann, Konrad and Ursel, later moved with her parents to Tuttlingen, which is where she spent her formative years and early adulthood.
After graduating from Gymnasium, Margarete worked for Wuerttemberg Giro, the state's major international bank. She was soon promoted to the Girozentrale in Stuttgart, working as Clerk in Foreign Exchange, the only woman in that advanced position at the time, where she utilized her language skills in English and French. It was there that she met her future husband, Hans Viktor Reif, a naturalized German-American. Margarete and Hans were married in London, England on 31st of July of 1959.
Margarete lived in multiple locations, the last 10 years in Newburyport MA. She worked in the US in fine china and crystal retail sales, first as the leading salesperson at Pitt Petri in Buffalo and later as store manager at Cooley's of Newbury Street in Boston. She served as caretaker for both her mother and husband through their long illnesses, and was widowed in 2001.
Margarete was active as a board member for her condominium association in Florida, as well as participating in book clubs and attending yoga classes up until the COVID epidemic. She was an avid skier and tennis player in her youth, always active, full of energy and enthusiasm, and game to try new experiences. Quick-witted, tenacious and generous to the end, Margarete was a strong and fiercely independent woman, a force to be reckoned with. She is survived by children Peter and Christine, and by grandchildren Kieran, Emily and Aaron.
Services are private. Contributions may be made in Margaret's name to National Public Radio (https://www.npr.org/), WGBH (https://www.wgbh.org/), WBUR (https://www.wbur.org/), or the civil rights organization of your choice. Arrangements by the Campbell Funeral Home, 6 High St., Ipswich, MA. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.