Marge’s nomination for the prominent award reads as follows:
“Marge is best known for her tireless efforts to make volunteer
leadership educational opportunities available to new and
experienced volunteer directors and coordinators. A former
president of FADS and a lifetime member, Marge has served
the organization in many capacities. As chair of the FADS
Certication Program, Marge was instrumental in making the
certification program a professional tool that has become
recognized throughout the country. On a national level,
Marge wrote an article about volunteers for the National Risk
Management Newsletter and was instrumental in convincing
Columbia/HCA to include volunteers in the corporate mission
statement.”
To the Dogs
After retiring from Blake in 1, Marge became a volunteer at
Southeastern uide Dogs in Palmetto. For the past 0 years,
she has worked as the manager of the Southeastern uide
Dogs gift shop.
When Marge rst took on this position, the gift shop was a
small closet in the old admin building. Today, she nds new
merchandise to sell, keeps the gift shop stocked, and learns
new ways to promote items. “It’s such a privilege to be with the
volunteers and the staff here,” she says. “And I’m continually
amazed by the students and how good they are with their dogs.”
Marge has also served as a breeder host for Southeastern uide
Dogs. “This has allowed me the pleasure of raising three breeder
dogs for the school: Brandy, a smooth-coat Collie, Docker, a
rough-coat Collie, and my present companion and best friend,
Smooch,” she says.
Smooch, a beautiful yellow Lab, is now a retired breeder. “The
collies were regal, and along comes this clown named Smooch,”
Marge says. Smooch entered Marge’s life after her husband Bob
passed away. “She makes me laugh, and she keeps me healthy
and active. These dogs give you a love you can’t imagine.” Not
only do Marge and Smooch love working together at the gift
shop, but they also share November birthdays three days apart.
“We party,” Marge says. “She gets a cupcake.”
A Family Affair
For the itas, volunteering runs in the family. Married for 51
years, Marge and Bob had ve childrenthree girls and two
boys. Today, Marge has 11 grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren.
Before he passed away, Marge’s husband Bob shared her love
of giving back to the community. “He was active in the Kiwanis,
serving as president, and he also was instrumental in bringing
the Stagg Bowl the division three football nal to Bradenton for
several years,” she recalls.
However, Marge says one of Bob’s most loved volunteer positions
was serving as president of the Pittsburgh Pirates Booster Club in
Bradenton. “The Pirates gave him the honor and the thrill of throwing
out the rst pitch for a Pirates game at Three Rivers Stadium,” Marge
adds. “He served the Pirates until the day he died.”
Three of Marge and Bob’s ve children still live and work in
Bradenton. Marge’s daughter Tracey has owned and operated
Tracey ita’s School of Dance since 181. For more than 0 years,
her son Robert has owned Bob ita Lawn Care Service. Her
son John is currently ice President at Morgan Stanley and has
served as a nancial advisor, following in his father’s footsteps.
Marge’s daughter Chris-Anne remained in New York, where she
works as an ofce manager for a dental practice. Her daughter
Cindi is a 0-year nancial advisor currently serving as a ice
President with Stifel.
“Our children and our grandchildren volunteer with many
organizations, including the Desoto Society, Kiwanis, HOPE,
Ronald McDonald Red Shoes, as well as local assisted living
homes, to name a few,” Marge adds proudly.
Over the years, when she wasn’t volunteering, Marge enjoyed
golng at Bradenton Country Club, where both she and Bob
served on the Board of Directors. “However, my most favorite
time was watching my children grow, and then create families
of their own and give us beautiful, intelligent grandchildren and
great-grandchildren,” she reects. “They all continue to serve
their communities.”