45°
GREENWICH, Conn. - Margaret Rose Nielsen died Friday, Dec. 13. She was 77.
Nielsen was born June 25, 1936, in Detroit, Michigan, to Rose and Ernst Otto Nielsen. She grew up in Chicago, Ill., and attended North Park Academy, and graduated from Blackburn College in Carlinville, Ill., in 1958 with a BA degree in Biology. Her professional career began at Ellis Junior High School in Elgin, Ill., teaching science and math. She continued her education, receiving two NSF fellowships and was awarded a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Michigan State University. Her sixth year in Education degree was earned from the University of Illinois.
From 1963 to 1992 she worked in the Greenwich Public school system teaching General Science as well as AP and General Biology. For seven years she served as Science Department Head at Central Junior High and from 1972 to 1992 as senior teacher for Biology at Greenwich High School. From 1987 to 1993 she was a supervisor of student teachers of Science and Mathematics at Manhattan College, Purchase, N.Y.
She was a member of the National Education Association, Connecticut Education Association, and the Greenwich Education Association where she held various positions including Grievance Chair. As a member of the professional education society Delta Kappa Gamma, she was president of both its local Alpha chapter and Alpha Kappa State as well as serving on many international committees.
Nielsen is survived by her sister, Winona (Wyett) Playford of Grand Rapids, Mich.; brother, Larry (Betty) Golf of Lubbock, Texas; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; a brother, Bernie J. Goff of Stockton, Calif.; and sister, Maralee R. Goff of Kalamazoo, Mich.
Nielsen will be buried in Saugatuck, Mich. with her parents. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18 at St. John's Lutheran Church, 884 Newfield Ave., Stamford.
Donations in Nielsen's name (Margaret Rose Nielsen) may be made to the World Fellowship Fund at Delta Kappa Gamma International, PO Box 1589, Austin, Texas, or to St. John's Lutheran Church, where Margaret had been a member.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Greenwich and receive free news updates.
