Margaret LIAL

LIAL, Margaret
Dedicated teacher, accomplished college math textbook author, and beloved mother and grandmother, died on Friday, March 16, 2012 at the age of 84. Born in Sacramento on March 22, 1927 to Umberto Paulo Bezzone and Angelina Edna Nicholai, Marge was a Sac High Grad (Class of '45) and remained an active member of the Sac High reunion committee. She attended Sacramento City College, then UC Berkeley before leaving school to marry McClatchy grad Ed Lial.

Marge lived a remarkable life. Her passion for math started by the first grade. She earned a Masters in Mathematics Education at Sacramento State College while raising three young children. After graduating, Marge became a teacher so that she could be in school forever. She started teaching at the high school level, but soon took a job at American River College, where she taught for 25 years. Early in her career, a colleague asked her to co-author a math textbook. She went on to publish over thirty textbooks, becoming a leading academic author and savvy businesswoman. The Lial series became the gold standard in Math education. She was active in the field and developed many lifelong friendships. She was mentor to many, especially young women math writers.

Marge was a compassionate, warm, and open person who touched the lives of everyone who was lucky enough to know her. She inspired us all with her curiosity, passion, adventurous spirit, and incredible sense of style. She loved to travel, especially to archaeological digs, and visited four continents and countless countries over the course of her life.Marge enjoyed and supported the arts, the Sacramento Kings, a Campus Commons wine group and developed many wonderful friendships in everything she did.

Despite being diagnosed with ALS, Marge lived her life with dignity and optimism. She remained in her home to the end with the dedicated assistance of two special caregivers, Nadia and Selita.

She will be missed by all, especially her children, Rick, Steve, and Janet, their spouses, Debbie, Paula, and Mary, and her grandchildren, Jessie, Michael, Karen, and Lindsay.

A Visitation will take place on Friday, March 23 from 5-7pm and Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 24 at 3:00pm, both at Nicoletti, Culjis & Herberger Funeral Home, 5401 Folsom Blvd. (916) 451-7284. Private Interment at East Lawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the American River College Foundation, Margaret Lial Math Major Scholarship, 4700 College Oak Drive, Sac, CA 95841 or the ALS Association, 2717 Cottage Way #17, Sac, CA 95825.