Margaret, My thoughts and prayers go to you and your family. I thank God he gave us the time we had together for lunch and marvel at how well you looked and how well you hid all from us. But as I said to Sonny she just wasn't herself. Bill, I remember all the wonderful Girl Scout times we had with Margaret and what a wealth of information and help she always was. My prayer is that God comforts you and your family in this trying time.
Love Beverly and Sonny Miller
MY Dear Friend Margaret,
It was so great seeing you at lunch a few weeks ago. I am very saddened to hear of this turn of events in your life. You must get better. We need to have another reunion. Liz, Bev and I are depending on you. I do hope you are covering yourself with your afghan that the girls made for you.
Margaret, you made such a difference in all the lives of our precious girls and the leaders' lives too. Your wonderful sense of humor will stay with me forever. You riding shotgun with my driving the girl scout van on our Juliette Gordon Lowe trip is unforgettable. Your caring for each of us and our well being hasn't gone unnoticed and I must tell you that you truly held each of us in the palm of your hands with your tireless guidance.
You did the same for the all the kids at Plant HS and I am certain with your new venture in College Guidepost. I am hopeful that you know how much I have loved being your friend and was honored to have you as a confidant for so many years in our Girl Scouting Friendship.
My best wishes and love to you,
Barbara Landers
Dear Margaret and Bill:
I just got a call from Sybil and our prayers go out to you and your family. I have been trying to reach you for a few days to give you all the good news about Cristina since April 1st. We just want you to know that thanks to all your efforts she has lots of fantastic choices and she will be very happy and thriving wherever she chooses. For that, we know you had lots to do with all of this and we can't thank you enough .As we think back on the beginning of this whole college process and Cristina's reluctance to begin, it was all because of you and your gentle grandmotherly ways that she became enthusiastic about applying to college.Again, we can't thank you enough!!!!
Right now we are just praying for you. You are a very strong person and know that you can give it all you can to get better. God Bless. We love you,
Cindi Samaha, Pat, Ryan and Cristina Meehan
Dear Mrs. Gandy:
You will remember me as Kimberly Miller, Beverly Miller's daughter. Mom just passed on the news about your illness. Please know that you are in my prayers daily! I pray that the Lord will heal you if it is His will and if not that He will provide you and your family with peace.
Girl scouts was a wonderful time in my life. I made many lasting friendships. You and the other leaders taught me so much and were responsible for many of the values I hold true, even to this day.
Thank you so much for dedicating your life to all of the girls in Girl Scouts as well as all of the students you helped to shape, mold and get in to college! You are a wonderful Leader and Counselor.
With all my love and prayers!
Kimberly Riffel
Hi this is Kelsey Arsenault! I just wanted to say thank you so much for helping me with my essay! I got into all of the schools i applied and will be attending UF in the summer. Thanks again!
Dearest M.J., Thank you for informing us of your situation. We will indeed hold you close
in our prayers - prayers for acute awareness that God is very close, within and without, behind,
beside and ahead of you on the path on which circumstances are taking you at this moment.
I had intended to respond to your recent, beautiful publication of the Gandy family's adventures and
accomplishments! Both the publication itself and your achievements are unique - thanks for
including us on what must have been an extensive list of friends and cohorts. We especially
enjoyed the picture of you and Bill.
All our love, Jane and Chet
Dear Bill - I'm so saddened to learn of M.J.'s passing. Our prayers now are for you and the family.
Jane and Chet Morris
Dear Margaret, Thank you for letting us know - you are in my prayers daily and also at the healing service at St. John's every Thursday. You know you are probably the most loved person in the city of Tampa! We'll see you soon - maybe even sooner than June.
Love, Anne Ferguson
Margaret,
I am writing you in hopes that you FEEL BETTER!! You have helped set the standard at HB Plant High School for excellence, tradition, and high expectations. The college resource position is still going strong at PHS and I want to credit you for the standards that you established here. Please email me if I can do anything to help out. Strength Through Unity!!! We will be here for you. STAY STRONG!!! Take care.
Robert M. Nelson III, Principal
H.B. Plant High School
Margaret Gandy!!
I love you!! You are one of the very first people that impacted my life 8 years ago when Jim and I came to Plant high School. Your strength, character, work ethic and intelligence made Plant High School a wonderful place to work. I want you to know that you are in my prayers daily and my thoughts more often than you can imagine. Keep the good fight gal. I know that God has his arms wrapped around you and your family so tightly.
All my love,
Carrie Mahon
Hi Ms. Gandy,
I wanted to know that my family and I are thinking of you during this difficult time. You had such a huge impact on my life through high school and college. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
John Chastain
Plant H.S. Class of 1998
Mars Hill College Class of 2004
.Dearest Margaret,
I just learned of your hospitalization, and it saddened me greatly. You have had such a starring role in the Glenn family story. We are eternally grateful for your wise and patient counseling during the girl's high school years. And to this day, I fall back on your sound insights to guide my teaching. You are truly one of a kind!
God bless you in your battle with that dreadful disease. Know that you are in our hearts and prayers.
With warmest regards,
Ann
Bill, Lee and Marcia,
I can't tell you what a loss I feel. What a loss for all of us and the world. Please know that you are in our prayers.
I felt the need to use this e-mail address since Joyelle is the one who coined the term, "Gandyland", in reference to Margaret and her office. It was so comforting to so many students in distress as well as those who were thriving and just wanted to share that with her.
If there is anything we can do, Missy, Donna and myself would love to do it. Let us know what the plans are. We would like to provide a meal for you if you would like . Just let us know when and where you will be. We will not intrude on your privacy and will just deliver it wherever you would like.
You are in our hearts.
Sincerely,
Melody Sudbury
Dear Margaret,
Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. You have always been an inspiration to me as a College Counselor. You truly paved the way for this career in Hillsborough County and I'm so grateful for that. As a Guidance Counselor I got to work with students, but this position is so much more exciting and rewarding. I have a job I love thanks to you! Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you or your family.
Erin Grady
College and Career Counselor
H.B. Plant High School
Margaret,
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent
Hillsborough County Public Schools
Dear Mrs. Gandy,
I understand that you are receiving emails so I wanted to make sure to send one. I actually spoke of you a few weeks ago to a neighbor whose daughter is considering colleges. I was reminded of how much you helped me with my own search (twice!) and how grateful I am for the guidance I received. I hope that you are resting comfortably and are getting as much good care as you have given over the years.
You are in my prayers.
Fondly,
Catie (Glenn) Witherspoon
Dear Margaret,
Today is a beautiful day. The birds are singing, the sky is blue, flowers are blooming everywhere, and the neighbor kids’ tennis ball landed in our fish pond. So the tennis ball is bobbing up and down, swirling around in the water out there. Maybe the fish think it is a beach ball.
I can’t tell you how many tennis balls I have had to collect out of our back yard. The boys next door love baseball-even named their dog after a baseball player. For safety in a congested neighborhood, they swing their bats at tennis balls instead. I should be grateful I don’t have smashed windows, so I just pick them up and deposit them in a chair. I suppose later today I’ll fish the wet one out of our fish pond, gather up the rest, and deposit them near their driveway for the boys to find-like a nest of Easter eggs J.
Soon the oldest boy will be going to Plant. Gee, I remember when he was just six years old. Before I know it, the other two will be at Plant, and the oldest will be in college, somewhere. Perhaps Baylor. Maybe a Christian college out in Texas. Ms. Erin Grady, our new College Resource Specialist, or Mrs. Samaha will no doubt help him decide. I remember the countless hundreds of students who launched their careers because of you, Margaret. You took gangly little boys like the ones next door, and turned them into confident young men-of-the-world. You took silly little girls, and transformed them into amazing young women, capable of any task, any challenge. I will always admire the work you did at Plant, and you.
I hope you have a window close by so you can see the brilliant green of new leaves, or the shimmering sun on the water. If a tennis ball lands “plop” on the water, well, I guess you can presume it came from over here, or over yonder.
Fondly,
Ginger Hilary (Jameson) Goepper
Margaret,
Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers daily.
Linda and Mike Phillips
Marcia,
Thank you for the wonderful picture of you mother, my dear friend.
Her smile is perfect. The everyday happy smile of a woman doing good
things. I was fortunate to have seen that smile followed by laughter
many times. She looks stunning. I miss her.
With love and sympathy,
Missy Abrunzo
Dear Bill and Marcia,
I am so very, very sad. What a terrible and sudden loss. I will miss my dear friend Margaret terribly. She was always so kind, supportive and ready to be part of whatever I was doing - Girl Scouts, Bridge Builders, whatever. And, she helped so many, many young people realize their dreams of going to college. But for you both and Lee and his family she was the loving mother and grandmother. My heart goes out to you all. I'm so sorry we are thousands of miles away.
Love, Liz Kennedy
I am heartbroken to hear of your sudden loss.
Our sudden loss.
My children are already in college, but I can hear an entire community out there wondering, what will we do now - without her?
Nothing compared to her family’s loss, I know.
We didn’t have an ongoing social relationship – I’m the mom of two students she helped. But we stayed in touch by phone and email through the years – long after they’d gone off to college. Margaret was always such a wealth of wisdom, advice, and comfort. Although she’d retired from public school life, I called her a few times for what I intended to be a very quick questions and answers, as I was mindful that she was now an independent consultant. But then, instead of ending the conversation, she would ask me questions beyond what I’d called about, offering valuable unsolicited advice. Brimming with knowledge and experience, she just couldn’t help herself. She just cared.
And, it makes me smile to recall how on more than one occasion, her guidance was just a tad “outside the box” – gently suggesting a different approach that took into account her knowledge of the politics and personalities involved - always in the best interest of students and academics, of course!
I was delighted when she invited me to have lunch with her in January. It had been years since we’d seen each other. She wanted to thank me for a referral, and, in her usual Margaret style, she’d offered to give guidance about a career step I was contemplating.
We never did have that lunch. At first she was really busy with some things, she said. Then not feeling quite up to par.
And so she leaves, but not without one last lesson. The most important one of all.
With heartfelt condolences from the Killoren family. We pray that over time, your wonderful memories of special moments together will help ease the sorrow of your loss.
Donna Killoren
DEAR BILL AND CHILDREN,
MARGARET WAS ONE OF THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE EVER BEEN BLESSED TO KNOW. SHE WAS SO SMART AND SO GIVING. LORD ONLY KNOW HOW MANY YOUNG PEOPLE SHE HELPED REACH THEIR GOALS.
WE LOVED HER LAUGH AND THE WAY SHE COULD JUST STRAIGHTEN OUT ANY DIFFICULT SITUATION AND MAKE IT RUN SMOOTH AS SILK. THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER MARGARET, AT LEAST NOT FOR US BUT WE KNOW THAT GOD HAS TAKEN AWAY HER PAIN AND IS ENJOYING HER GREAT MIND AND LAUGH.
WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HER AND WANT YOU TO CALL ON US IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE CAN DO. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR FRIENDSHIP WITH BILL AND WILL KEEP IN TOUCH.
WITH SINCEREST SYMPATHY,
JOHN AND CYNTHIA LYNN
SACAC friends,
Margaret Gandy, the 2008 Starling Award winner, passed away on April 8 after a brief illness. Please read the attached tribute from her friend and colleague, Debra Landesberg.
Elizabeth Merritt
SACAC Executive Assistant
Tribute to Mrs. Margaret Gandy
2008 William Starling Award, SACAC
Mentor, College Counselor, Colleague Extraordinaire
It is difficult to find words to describe the hole left by the loss of our dear friend Margaret Gandy. Her mission was to mentor, attain information, and help students achieve their goals. Many know her as their own mentor as she coached college admission representatives on successful details to a high school visit. Others may have begun as volunteers only to be launched into positions of high school college counselors. Her work is legendary, and she will always be considered a guru in our industry.
Margaret prided herself on maintaining a current edge on financial aid, both the opportunities available to her students, and the inner workings of scholarship attainment and FAFSA completion. Her knowledge was always current due to attendance at all state, federal, and conference presentations regarding financial aid. She was the expert in this area serving on committees, panels, and presentations.
My good fortune was to become her friend. We enjoyed such great times at professional conferences and local events. Margaret’s energy always surpassed mine as I worked to maintain her pace. Repeatedly I would be ready to call it a night, only to find Margaret deeply engaged exchanging information with a colleague she had just met. Margaret thrived on making new acquaintances and deeply enjoyed meaningful discussions with old friends. Her patience knew no limitation and her wisdom no boundaries. Margaret always knew what to do and how to state any thought with her own special style of clarity and grace. Her sense of humor always added the exact right touch. The loss is great.
Solace may be found in the groundbreaking work that Mrs. Gandy accomplished in the industry of college and financial aid counseling that define her status as a legend. She will be remembered as the Guru who knew all, always generous to share her knowledge, and brilliant with ideas for the future. Margaret Gandy truly loved her work and will always remain at the top of the profession. There is no doubt in my mind the heavens are being organized to seek and achieve individual goals and look ahead to the brightness of the future! Rest In Peace, my treasured friend. You are already deeply missed.
Bill:
Good to have spoken to you yesterday. Attached is a photo of the momento that I mentioned to you. After hearing of her transition last Friday evening, she and you were on my mind. The next day, as I passed through our dining room, I took particular notice of the pickle plate that we have hanging on our wall. It is beneath a photo of “Markham House” which was the rooming house that Margaret’s and my grandmother (Era Belle Johns Parham Markham) ran with her second husband, Willard Markham. Ernest gave me that photo 20± years ago; he is one of those on the porch as is my father (Les),… Willard Markham is down front on the far right.
Well, apparently when Margaret was going through the possessions of late parents, she came across the plate, recalled that it was said to have come from Markham House and was what was known as a “pickle plate”. She offered it to me as she knew that I had – and treasured - that photo. I was complimented at the time that she thought of me for that keepsake, and continue to be so now,… Margaret thought of me.
In brotherly love,
Jimmy Parham
Bill,
I am away with Hannah visiting colleges and got the news of Margaret's death. I guess I didn't expect it quite so soon after we talked. I do not know if a service is planned as I hate to miss it. We will not return until Saturday evening.
As I walk on college campuses I have been reminded of Margaret in so many ways. We had many good talks about the process and I would love to bounce some ideas off of her. I told Joel that I just can't imagine going through the process with Hannah without Margaret's guidance. So many times I have thought of things that I think, I just have to call Margaret and tell her this .. she will enjoy hearing about it. I often would email her articles I would find that I just knew she would find as fascinating as I did. I will miss that - being able to share with her and hear her thoughts. She has not only guided my children but me as well. My interest in the college process and helping students came from my years of working with her. She touched our lives in so many ways. I think back on the many days Leah and Joel spent with her working on essays! They would come home tight lipped about the topics, but I knew everything was okay because Margaret had guided them. They affectionately called her the GanDog! The day Leah went on her official athletic visit to Princeton I was with Margaret when Leah called me and said... mom, this is where I want to go, I want to apply early. I told Margaret right then and she said, well lets get busy! I loved the way she made you feel like anything was possible. Ironically, when my oldest was a junior in high school Margaret called me into her office and said," Sybil, Dartmouth is coming to visit Plant today.I think this would be a great school for Eli. I am going to send for him to come to the visit and you should go too." Eli ended up at Dartmouth and it was the perfect place for him.
I feel like I just received from Margaret and never really gave. For this I am sorry. She was such a wealth of experience and information that I guess I didn't feel like I had anything to offer her in exchange. She was my friend, and I will remember her forever.
Please express to your children and their families how much we loved her. Many children's lives were made better by her ...my children's lives were made better by her, I was made better by her. She leaves a long legacy and shoes that will never be able to be filled. Thank you for sharing her with so many.
I will stay in touch and I do hope that I can help you in any way. You mentioned cleaning out her college materials and I would love to help.
Once again, my deepest sympathy. I has been an honor to have know Margaret.
Sybil Samaha and family
Bill -
I just wanted to shoot you a quick note to pass on my sympathies.
I was really touched by the article about your wife, and I am sure she was a true light in your life. I can only imagine what it is like to lose someone so special to you, but I am really impressed by the way you have maintained your strength and positive outlook. Try to keep your head up, and know that you are truly cared for around here, and if I can do anything…you need only ask.
Regards,
Ryan Shaw
Field Technology Manager - Region 78
H&R BLOCK
Bill and Marcia,
I just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed getting to know Marcia and sharing good times with both of you. It was almost like "old times" and Margaret was with us in spirit, I'm sure. Thank you for joining us at a difficult time in your lives. It meant a lot to us.
Please let me know when I'll be able to plan the flower arrangement. I'll need to know the size of the picture, etc. If it's alright with you, I would like to make it, if time allows, and it is possible with my schedule next week. I do have to take Mom to a Dr.'s appointment and I will be helping with the grandchildren at least 1 day, as well as packing and getting ready to go to celebrate Elle's 1st birthday. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in a small way. It makes me feel better about missing the celebration.
Melody Sudbury
Margaret Gandy was and will always be the symbol of Plant High School. She has helped thousands of teenagers get into their dream colleges and she has certainly made an impact on my life as well. Right before high school started, I met with Margaret for my first time. She opened the door with a friendly smile that I can still picture today. Then she led me into her work room full of countless papers and files. A little nervous, I sat down at her meeting table. All of a sudden all of my fears went away when she began talking to me. She spoke in a soothing, happy voice. Her friendliness and confidence were evident and put me at ease. I knew at that moment that Margaret was special.
After this first meeting, our talks became more frequent. It struck me early on that Margaret lived to help kids like me find their place in the world and she would have it no other way. She completed every task with her whole heart and planned her lifestyle around her job. She loved her family and was a wonderful role model to everyone that she met. Margaret wanted all of us to have a perfect beginning in adulthood. She had more dedication, heart, and passion than anyone else I know. She understood me and she made me feel confident about the next important step in my life. It was like we almost had a different language. We both knew what each other were thinking and that made me smile. Our relationship grew with time, increasing my confidence every step of the way. I loved making her proud and she knew what her help meant to me. I was always amazed how she found the time at the very moment I needed it, to check up on me or send me an urgent email about something she thought I should know. Margaret has made a huge difference in my life by providing me with answers, reassurance and confidence.
Even though she was my guide, she felt more like my grandmother who comforted me and wanted the best for me. Quite honestly, I believe that she is still with me today. She has been with me while making huge decisions and I just know that she will continue to be a part of me whenever I need her. Margaret Gandy was God's gift to our world and I will never forget her.
Emily Sasso
