We are sad to say goodbye to our mum who passed away peacefully January 2, 2023. She is loved by her four children Richard, Moira, Elizabeth and David, their partners Rossy, Andy, Lee and Michelle, and her grandchildren Harry, Russell and Stella. She is the daughter of Alexander MacLeod Baird and Phyllis (Petty) Baird and is survived by her brother, Ian MacLeod Baird.
Margaret grew up in Oak Bay graduating from Oak Bay High with the class of 1956. She went on to nursing at the University of British Columbia (B.S.N. class of 1961), University of Washington (M.N. class of 1968) and the University of Michigan (M.P.H. class of 1974). She was an Associate Professor at the School of Nursing at the University of Windsor 1968-1974. Margaret was a trailblazing woman in public health nursing, providing leadership in the delivery of Perinatal Care in the Province of British Columbia’s Ministry of Health. Her special interest was in Mother-Babe health initiatives and she was the co-editor of Baby’s Best Chance. Margaret loved her time helping new mums and was never happier than when she had the opportunity to be a Kangaroo for newborns.
Margaret lived in many communities throughout BC, Washington State and Ontario, but returned to Victoria to raise her family. With her kindness and generosity, she made friends around the world that lasted a lifetime. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
20 Responses
Margaret was my neighbour in Toronto, We enjoyed many outings together and I still think of her as a very “special” lady.
My sincere condolences to the family on Margie’s passing. I am a sorority sister and from the minute I met her, she and I clicked. We kept in touch over the years, and I was all ready to visit her in Victoria when COVID hit, and I was never able to follow through to see her. I will miss her.
She was such a bright spirit and fun, too. The best memory was in the fall of 1960 (?) when the Grey Cup was played in Vancouver. I was from Ottawa and she had a connection to Ottawa, too, so I persuaded her to join me at the game, rooting for Ottawa amidst a lot of Western Canadians who were not!
My parents retired to Victoria so whenever I was up to visit them, I would get in touch with Margie and we would have a great catch-up, often with a couple of other sorority sisters who were in Victoria. We didn’t see each other much in later years but usually there was a Christmas card to catch us up.
My best to all the children and their spouses and children.
Faith Wilson Thesingh
Vancouver
Irene Manderville
Sincere condolences to Margaret’s family whom she so greatly valued. I did not have the privilege of knowing them. She was the manager when I worked in the Mother – Babe unit at Victoria General Hospital. She had come to us after working several years for the Ministry of Health, I believe. As a leader, she was always very fair and seemed to really enjoy her work even when, during the nursing strike the managers were given some of the most unpleasant tasks. She always did those willingly and with a smile. I believe it was a year or2 after she retired and moved to Toronto. I didn’t realize she had returned to Victoria until I saw the obituary. May she Rest In Peace.
Some might like to know that the Nursing Class of 1961 has a Memorial Fund to support students to which anyone can contribute in memory through the UBC Development Office. Margie’s name has been added to the list of our dear classmates we miss so much.
https://nursing-alumni.sites.olt.ubc.ca/in-memoriam/alumni-of-the-class-of-1961/
So very sorry to hear of your loss. Thinking of you at this difficult time.
Kind regards
Jenny
To Dave and the larger family,
My thoughts are with you right now and of fond memories of Mrs. Wilson’s generosity of spirit. I have this very specific one of being taught how to fry an egg at her house when I was around 10 years old. I decided that one should fry an egg by cracking it as high above a frying pan as possible. SPLAT! “Nicholas, have you never been taught how to fry an egg?!” She said in a soft twinkly way. “Here, love, let me show you.” That remains one of the best eggs I have eaten.
I still can’t make fried eggs like Mrs. Wilson.
With love,
Nick
BSN Class of 1961 joins many others in feeling the loss of our wonderful classmate. We knew her before that picture of the graduation at VGH in 1961! We were in a 5 year UBC program that included 2 years at VGH to receive degrees in Nursing that were still pretty “unusual” as viewed by the public and older nurses. Margie was always a bright spark, full of fun and a wonderful sense of humour. Our class has had yearly reunions since graduation and Margie attended many of them…with tales of whatever was current in her life. She enjoyed raising her children while increasing both her education and leadership areas in Public Health. Her book, Baby’s Best Chance, lead to much improvement of the care of mother’s and babies nationally and internationally. Until only a few years ago, she would call some of us from wherever she was living and chat, again with humour about the various losses she was experiencing as her health declined. A wonderful classmate, friend since we met in 1957, and always welcoming and deeply caring about us all. We join the family in being proud of her and so grateful for knowing her.
David and Michelle, Richard, Elizabeth and Moira.
We are sad to hear of your Mum’s passing. We always remember her strong and positive attitude to life.
She was interested in everyone and always very encouraging.
Our sincere condolences.
Is there any charity or cause that we can support in her honour?
Jan and Michael Stanger
So sorry to hear of the sad passing of this wonderful woman. She always knew how to throw a good party! Our thoughts are with those left behind. Nick joins me in sending his condolences to you all.
I knew Margaret from when we were in Grade 6 together, then through to Grade 12. Saw her occasionally when she came to the Oak Bay dinners, an on-going committee that didn’t want to end the dinners spent together.
Always enjoyed speaking with her on those occasions because she was so positive and very bright. Please accept my condolences on her passing.
Ron Greene