Dear Community,
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of beloved volunteer and community member, Margaret Boyd. Margaret was a fixture at the Manny Cantor Center, dedicating over 12,500 hours of her life to the Educational Alliance community. She will be deeply missed by everyone.
Margaret Campanella Boyd, known as “Margie” in her youth, was born in New York City on September 6, 1942. She grew up on the Lower East Side with her mother and father, aunts and uncles, and brothers and sisters. She worked for many years in the health and human services field, dedicating much of her career to counseling people diagnosed with HIV. She is survived by her two sons Richard and Albert, and a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. Margaret is predeceased by her sister Rachel and son Edward.
Those who were lucky enough to work closely with Margaret knew her to be caring, hilariously funny, strong-willed, and deeply committed to her neighbors and community. Always going above and beyond, Margaret was known for purchasing snacks out of her own pocket for bingo, arriving at MCC early each morning to make sure the coffee was strong, and playing integral roles in WCBL’s special events and celebrations. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Margaret could often be found sitting outside of MCC distributing essentials, helping people sign up for benefits, and offering moral support at a time when it was desperately needed. She was and will always be a model for the power of service to one’s community at any age.
Services for Margaret will be held at the Branch Funeral Home of Miller Place on Long Island this Wednesday and Thursday (details below). There will be a Celebration of Life held for Margaret at the Manny Cantor Center at a later date and we will share details for that as soon as they are available.
Any time death touches us, it is extremely stressful; please know that we are here for you. In the coming days, Weinberg staff members will provide information about grief counseling resources and opportunities to seek support from your community. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us.
It is easy to want to turn inward in times such as this. But let us take a page from Margaret’s book and reach out to one another. Whenever she saw a couple walking together at MCC, Margaret would say: “Have you hugged each other today?” I encourage you all to honor Margaret’s memory by doing as she would: check on your fellow community members and reach out to your friends who may need it. May Margaret’s memory be a blessing to us all.
Sincerely,
Jamie Davidson Craig, Executive Director
Deb Scher, Director of Civic and Community Engagement
Services for Margaret Boyd:
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Funeral Service:
10:00 AM
Branch Funeral Home of Miller Place
Directions via Google Maps: 551 NY-25A, Miller Place, NY 11764
To see Margaret Boyd’s obituary, click here.
To see Margaret’s New Yorker of the Week Feature on NY1, click here.
If you or someone you know is experiencing grief and need assistance please visit the mental wellness resources below:
If you or someone you know are experiencing a mental health crisis and are in imminent danger of harming yourself or others, go to the nearest hospital emergency department, or call 911, in order to be transported to the nearest hospital emergency department.
If you or someone you know are experiencing a mental health crisis and need assistance, however, you are not in immediate danger, please call 1-888-NYC-WELL, 1-877-565-8860 (Trans Lifeline), Text “WELL” to 65173, or go directly to the nearest emergency department.
Mental Health (24/7, Crisis Hotlines/Triage Services):
Trevor Project 866-488-7386, Text ‘START’ to 678-678, or chat online (LGBTQ+ Community, Ages 13-24)
Grief & Bereavement Support:
*Over 24 bereavement support groups available in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, free of charge. Services are offered in English and Spanish. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please email Jackie Abbondandolo at [email protected], or call: 718-518-2000, ext. 2281.*
*If you are interested in support services and do not have a family member receiving services through VNS, you may be eligible for free services if/when space permits. VNS offers grief and bereavement support groups in all five boroughs. Services are available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Contact the department or group facilitator by phone or email (listed) for more information.
