Margaret Weitkamp

Margaret Weitkamp
10/15/2024
Margaret Rosemary Weitkamp (neé Burrows) was born on December 27, 1938 in Epsom outside of London. Margaret's parents encouraged her to excel and she earned a scholarship to Newnham College, Cambridge University. It was during her time that she met her husband, Lowell Weitkamp, and made plans to move to the United States.
After her marriage broke down, Margaret embarked on a long and successful career in affordable housing. Initially, she worked as manager of the housing cooperative in Ann Arbor, enabling her to develop her career while supporting her young daughter. This is also where she began to demonstrate her professional drive and deep concern for the people with whom she worked.
In 1977, she was recruited by the National Housing Law Project where she focused on creating policies and procedures for the implementation of the newly created federal housing programs. This necessitated a move to California where she remained for the rest of her life. Later on, she managed a national inventory of hundreds of the most challenging developments. This was made all the more difficult by the explosion in use of crack cocaine and its impact on inner-cities. Her final career move was to an organization that focused on building and operating housing for seniors.
Her legacy can be best seen in those she mentored. She recognized those with an extra spark whether they were just starting out or perhaps whose qualities had been overlooked by others. She motivated people to grow and achieve what Margaret knew was possible but what her "recruits" had not, perhaps, seen in themselves. Years after Margaret retired, her fortunate "beneficiaries" would describe the important role she had played in their personal success. She left a mark on people and organizations for years after she had moved on.
Throughout her work life she demonstrated honesty, dedication, hard work, integrity, fairness and the importance of being direct and wanting the best for others.
Margaret leaves behind a daughter, Emma Weitkamp, who lives with her husband, Rod Hafner, and their three children in Margaret's native England, a brother, Paul Burrows, and his family and her long-time partner, Jonathan Vines, in Kensington. Those who wish to honor Margaret with a charitable donation should consider Covenant House or any other organization focused on helping the homeless.