Ms. Margaret E. Boulding

In a world where we are now accustomed to getting all our information in 140 characters or less on Twitter, that will not be possible for the family of Margaret Boulding. We are honored and proud to share our love, respect, and memories of her. Sure, we could say simply that Margaret was a leader and visionary in her work, a nurturer for a generation of underrepresented minorities in engineering and science, and a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and devoted friend to many. However, there’s more to her story. Margaret was born in Cleveland, Ohio on July 23, 1932 to Maggie Elizabeth (Smith) Gordon (deceased) and Ralph Gordon Sr.(deceased). Margaret was the third of five children born from this union including Mildred (Gordon) Reese (deceased), Ralph Gordon Jr. (deceased), Betty Jean Gordon (deceased), and Barbara (Gordon) Curley. Margaret was educated in the Cleveland public school system attending Central Middle School, and graduating from John Hay High School. Margaret’s strength and will distinguished her from her peers and she bravely took risks and was very curious. She studied modeling, she roller skated, danced, and loved the performing arts, especially at Karamu theater. She often introduced her family to these adventures along the way. In fact, she was the first in her family to study Catholicism, which eventually led to her parents and siblings following her lead and becoming baptized in the Catholic faith. Margaret was a member of St. Dominic’s church for many years before she moved south to Florida to be near her daughter. Margaret wasn’t afraid to break the mold and dream big. Margaret attended Kent State University where she met and eventually married Erwin Boulding Sr. (deceased) of St. Louis, Missouri. Margaret and Erwin spent many happy decades together and had two children, Karen Boulding and Erwin Boulding Jr. (Chip) (deceased). Margaret was a lifelong learner and worker to earn her Master’s Degree from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). Margaret had a long career with CWRU starting at the School of Nursing as a Secretary, and culminating with her retirement in 2000 as the Assistant Dean of the Office of Minority Programs. She worked with current CWRU students in her programs to help them successfully matriculate and begin their various careers. Additionally, she ran several pre-college Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs designed to expose underrepresented minorities, in middle school, to possible science, tech, engineering, and math careers. When Margaret retired, countless students attended her retirement gatherings, to share what Margaret had done to help launch their professional careers, and to thank her for how hard she fought for them while they were students. Margaret enjoyed a good challenge and was smart, tenacious, and skilled enough to navigate most of these challenges with ease, especially when it involved helping one of her students. After Margaret retired, she enjoyed spending time with family and friends entertaining, cooking, travelling the world, particularly Puerto Rico, and socializing. Margaret was an extravert who enjoyed good food, engaging conversation and fun. Margaret faced her greatest challenge post-retirement, managing, and coping with her advanced Alzheimer’s Disease. Through it all, she never lost her sense of self, her strength, determination, and sheer will to persevere, even as her mind and body began to fail her. She left this world peacefully, and with her usual dignity on June 21, 2017, at the age of 84, with her family and friends nearby. Margaret is survived by her daughter, Karen Boulding; sister, Barbara Curley; sister-in-law, Arlene (Stamps) Boulding; nieces, Marsha (Curley) Harris, Gwendolyn Riley, and Dorothy Riley; nephews Gary Boulding and William Riley; first cousins, Essie (Smith) Cameron, Geraldine (Smith) Rodgers and Vivian (Smith) Pursley along with a host of other cousins and extended family.

Ms. Margaret E. Boulding

July 23, 1932 - June 21, 2017