Margaret Koch

Margaret Koch, born in Winnipeg, Canada, spent the last, best 59 years of her life living in the same home in Sierra Madre. It was in this home she died Wednesday, March 8th 2023 at the age of 93 surrounded by her loving family. Growing up in Canada her Father, Edward Lawlor, was a fundamentalist minister. But, Margaret says only once did someone call her a 'preacher's kid' and "she beat him up". From Winnipeg to Shackleton, when she was 15 she worked at a hospital for wounded veterans from WWII. Perhaps that's where her deep empathy was first formed. A child of the depression, she says she was "dirt poor" but never felt deprived. Margaret moved to the US for college and soon became a citizen. As a young, divorced Mother of a small daughter Denise, in 1955 she was brave enough to move alone to Seattle. She got a job in a lab, found an apartment and soon met her husband of 68 years, George. A second daughter, Traci, and the family moved to California. Soon after, she gave birth to her son, John. Margaret's professional life began as an office worker, first at the Burroughs Corporation in Pasadena. Her activist conscience was launched as she witnessed the inequities for women in the work-place. Margaret was a card-carrying member of NOW (National Organization for Women). She also marched during the Civil Rights movement and, after earning her real estate license, refused to practice when she observed the racism in the industry at the time. When she was hired at the Pasadena Art Museum as Secretary to Director Eudorah (Eudie) Moore her talents were put to use. Margaret worked on the California Design Show and catalog and helped mount many cutting-edge exhibits with artists ranging from Alan Kaprow to Joseph Cornell. In her 40's Margaret decided she needed to finish her degree, interrupted by an early marriage. While working full-time at Allendale Elementary School, Margaret went back to college and earned her bachelors of Human Sociology in 1978. Her first job as a social worker was with 'Florence Crittenton'. She next became administrator at 'Hamburger House', later re-named 'Aviva Family and Children's Services'. Margaret was an invaluable asset there, handling every aspect of this Hollywood home for young women in deep need of crisis care. This was her calling, her mission and was perfectly suited for someone with such deep compassion. She described herself as a 'humanist'. Her faith was in the beauty of life, the goodness of all people. When she retired, 28 years ago, she got to work at the art of living. Margaret practiced yoga every week, joined the tai chi group in Sierra Madre and elevated to a high level of expertise. She began painting with watercolor and everyone who loved her has her work hanging in their homes. She was a Bailey Canyon Docent, taking groups of school children into the canyon above Sierra Madre and teaching them the "wonders of nature". She volunteered at the Sierra Madre Library and also at the Greenhouse for Children's Hospital. She was an avid reader, a devoted grandmother to her six grandchildren, a gardener, a chef and the best friend you'd ever be fortunate enough to have. Her family wants her to always be remembered as an independent woman, a vanguard who took on social norms and fought against any injustice. She was a powerhouse, a joyous spirit, an utterly remarkable human being. We're not sure we'll go on without her but her presence is very alive in each of our hearts. Her favorite song was from Monty Python, 'Always Look at the Bright Side of Life'. If you want to know more about Margaret Koch, give a listen. She always said, if she had a grave-stone, she wanted it inscribed 'Boy, was it fun!' That's how she felt about each and every day of her beautiful, extraordinary life.