Margaret Wolfe

Margaret (Tina) Gillies Wolfe, 99 years young, of Atlantic Beach FL passed away October 10, 2018 in her home at the Fleet Landing Retirement Community, Atlantic Beach, FL. She was born July 21, 1919 in Evanston, Illinois to Clarence Stephen Marsh and Fern Greene Marsh.

Tina attended The Park School, one of the oldest Progressive schools in the country, and is a graduate of Western High School (DC). She attended American University (DC) and graduated from Northwestern University (IL) with a Bachelor’s Degree in sociology. Tina married Donald Reiter Gillies on May 8, 1948 and was married 38 years until his passing in 1986. In 1993, Tina reconnected with Thomas Bradley Wolfe, a former classmate, at her 50th Western High School reunion. After a romantic courtship they married in 1994 and enjoyed 16 wonderful years together until Tom’s passing in 2010. Tina’s sister Jane Marsh and brothers James Marsh and David Marsh preceded her in death.

Tina’s legacy from her parents was a strong belief in the value of education and the joy of music. Influenced by her father, Clarence, who was a Dean at Northwestern University and the Director of Education for the Civilian Conservation Corps, Tina worked as the Coordinator of Financial Aid at George Mason University for many years and volunteered at the Vienna Women’s Center, which provides counseling, support, and education to its clients. She made sure her children were schooled in choral music and knew the words to the Doxology by heart. In the spirit of life-long education, Tina embraced the world of computer technology and was an avid user of her desktop, laptop, iPad, and iPhone. She also played duplicate bridge until recently, and timed herself doing the NYT crossword puzzle in ink.

Tina is survived by her son, Stephen Reiter Gillies (Arlene Krohmal), daughter Katharine Fern Gillies (Mark Wambach), and her beloved Wolfe children Mary McConnell Custer, Katherine Hilliker, Anne Wolfe, and James Wolfe. She is also survived by her grandchildren, whom she adored, Benjamin Krohmal, Eleanor Wambach, and Hannah Wambach; great-grandsons Ezra Mosman Krohmal and Jordan Reichert; as well as her dear sister-in-law Jacqueline Marsh and her many nieces and nephews.

Tina will be inurned next to her first husband, Donald Reiter Gillies, in Arlington National Cemetery, after a brief private ceremony. Memorial contributions in her memory can be made to: The Park School Student Scholarships, 4625 Harlem Rd., Snyder, NY 14226 or Fleet Landing Scholarship Fund, One Fleet Landing Blvd., Atlantic Beach, FL 32233.