Margaret Ann Ford Robinson
Born April 30, 1930
TIMELINE 1930 – 2010 and beyond….
It all started at Sr. Joseph’s Hospital in Austin, Texas on April 30, 1930. A baby girl was born to Anna Mae and Robert Augustine Ford. They named her Margaret Ann. Their first child, Mary Elizabeth was so pleased to have a baby sister. Margaret Ann was baptized while she was in the hospital. She and her mother were in the hospital for two weeks. This was an average stay for a woman after she gave birth in those days. When Margaret Ann was six weeks old her family moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee and never looked back.
Some memories of when Margaret Ann was a little girl:
She played paper dolls with her sister Emily, that is until the paperboy caught them playing together. They had wonderful cardboard teenage-looking dolls and they divided them evenly and made up a regular life style with them. They would date one another, go to parties, and have arguments and more fun real life activities.
Margaret Ann and her sister would use the cardboard from their Daddy’s laundered shirts to draw on or make paper dolls. He would beg them to be patient and wait until he used the shirts.
On many Saturday’s the family would go to the movies for nine cents. They would see a cartoon and a news clip.
Margaret Ann’s mother would always save all of the tissue, ribbons and wrappings from presents so they could re-use them when they went to birthday parties. They had to iron them to get the wrinkles out.
Margaret Ann’s Daddy worked at a lumber yard- he was an estimator. He started out sweeping wood chips at a young age. He would bring home all kinds of wood chips and make small boards to draw on.
Margaret Ann’s mother would always make creative Halloween costumes for the girls but they always wanted a costume that came in a plastic bag from the store. The ones she made were always clever, but they could not see it then.
Margaret Ann’s childhood home had four fireplaces. Each bedroom had a fireplace and there was one in the living room and one in the dining room. In the winter that is how they heated their house. In the summer there were no fans and it was really hot.
Margaret Ann’s mother took a job at the dry cleaners so she could pay for piano lessons.
When the family’s radio broke, the girls begged for their daddy to buy them a TV. He bought a new “Cabinet Radio” instead of a TV.
Starting School:
In September of 1935 Margaret Ann started the first grade. She went to Notre Dame School; it was the only Catholic school in Chattanooga. She and her sister Mary Elizabeth, better known as M. E. or Emily rode the streetcar to and from school each day. It cost five cents each way. All of the teachers at Notre Dame School were nuns. Margaret Ann’s first grade teacher was Sister Patricia. She was very strict, Margaret Ann was afraid of her. She remembers that the boys used to put her long curls in the ink well. Her favorite teacher was her 3rd grade teacher, Sr. Antoninus. She was really sweet. Another favorite was Sr. Mary Phil. She visited Margaret Ann and family after she got married. Sr. Mary Phil was only 19 years old when she started teaching. At recess they played hopscotch, sling the statue and jump rope. In the 3rd grade Margaret Ann played the part of Mrs. Claus in the Christmas program, “Tommy’s Christmas Pie”. The part of Santa Claus was played by a boy named Reginald Stagmaier. (his name will come up again).
Notre Dame School went from grade one to grade 12. The 1st through 8th grades were on the first floor and grades 9 – 12 were on the second floor. So to go to high school you just had to go up stairs. Margaret Ann remembers how she was always the line leader because she was the shortest. There were lots of processions and she was always nervous because she had to carry the flowers and always know where to go. She received her First Communion in the 2nd grade and was confirmed in the 6th grade.
In the 7th grade Margaret Ann had to have her appendix removed. She had to lie flat for 3 weeks, (The next time she had surgery was in 2008, just 65 years later). Margaret Ann remembers going to her first dance in the 8th grade with a boy named Jimmy Lynch. She was so embarrassed because he was the only boy who wore knickers, everyone else wore long pants.
High School:
In high school Margaret Ann was in the Sodality where she was Vice-president her junior year and President her senior year. She was in the Science Club and the Spanish Club. She played the flute for the School Band (Who knew that?) and on the Marion Year Book staff, the basketball team and more… In December 1946 Margaret Ann opened a program In observance of National Fire Prevention Week by playing a piano solo, “Tis Raining” and closed the ceremony with a rendition of “Turkish Dance” by Mozart. One of Margaret Ann’s fondest memories from high school was when she got to be the blessed mother in the live nativity at the 5am Mass on Christmas morning with a real live baby. For senior superlatives, Margaret Ann was voted Most Representative Girl. We could have guessed that. She went to her senior prom with non other than Reginald Stagmaier. Her three best friends from grade school were Sara, Peggy and Jody. They all still keep in touch and are planning to go on a cruise this summer to celebrate their 80th birthdays. Margaret Ann graduated from Notre Dame H.S. in 1948.
College:
Margaret Ann went to an all girls college in Memphis, Tennessee. She received an art scholarship. She was vice-president of the student government, a member of the Angelus Glee club and the Sodality, the secretary-treasurer for the Spanish Club and many other organizations that we are waiting to hear about. Congratulations go to Sr. Albertus Mangus and Margaret Ann whose outdoor Christmas crib won the first place trophy in the City Beautiful 1950 Christmas Lighting Contest. That’s not all….. at the end of her senior year Margaret Ann Ford was crowned “Miss Sienna”. The article reads: One of the big “end of year” events, the naming of Miss Sienna and her court, took place at the Spring Formal on May 9, 1952. Miss Sienna of 1952 is Margaret Ann Ford, the “Little” lady who has done probably more than anyone else to promote that friendly feeling that is one of the endearing qualities of Sienna College. Margaret Ann graduated with a teaching degree from Sienna College in 1952.
Getting Married:
On February 14, 1953 Margaret Ann married the sailor George John Robinson. He was born and raised in West Philadelphia and he was in the Navy when they met. Margaret Ann was welcomed into the Robinson family by a very special lady named Eleanor, better known as Barney. Barney was married to George’s brother Albert. The two became fast friends and great supporters for each other from the very beginning. They have a treasured friendship that is like no other.
The Robinson family grew quickly. George and Margaret welcomed their first son George, Jr (bertter known as Rob) in November of 1953. In December of 1954 Chris was born and another son Mark came along in July 1956. Finally a baby girl was born in December of 1958. Beth – however, came with another brother. That’s how we got Joe. Patty was born in March of 1960 and last but not least, in September of 1961, Margaret Ann, better known as Peg was born. Some years have passed…. now there are 26 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Back in Chattanooga Margaret Ann’s sister Emily married Harold Sparn and had four children. Mary Margaret, Loretta, Phil and Therese. Luckily we could travel to Chattanooga for summer visits. Margaret Ann would board an airplane with all seven children to go back home for a relaxing visit. Many great and unforgettable memories were created on those trips. That had to take a lot of courage! In 1967 we also experienced one of the saddest memories, that of the untimely death of Emily, at the age of 39. Her youngest child Therese was only 7 years old. This had to be one of the saddest times for Margaret Ann. We continued the summer visits to Chattanooga but they were never the same. Death of her parents: Robert Ford died in 1965 and Anna Mae died in 1970.
Teaching:
As the children began to get older Margaret Ann began to substitute teach at Oakland Terrace Elementary. Her teaching certificate from Sienna College was not accepted here in Maryland. She had to earn 30 more credit hours, so she started taking evening courses at the University of Maryland. In the fall of 1972 she was hired as a permanent kindergarten teacher at Oakland Terrace. Some of her O.T. friends are here today, Mary Koaster, Connie Strachan, Suzanne Clewell and Eddy Turkington. Most of her years of teaching were at Highland Elementary School. And some of her dear friends from Highland are here today: Nancy Stearman, Carol Waldecker, Lola Gimmel and Vi Leach. Halloween was always a highlight for our Margaret. She was Peter Pan, Miss Piggy, Pinnochio, Little Bo Peep, The Little Mermaid, An American Girl Doll, Betsy Ross and one of our favorites… Mary Poppins.
At some point Sr. Kathleen found out Margaret was available. For several years now she has been filling in and volunteering at St. John’s where she is known as Nana. And this is where she has found many new “Best Friends” and admirers. Some of the kids even call her Nana when she is subbing, but that makes sense because she is everybody’s Nana.
Traveling:
In 1995 Margaret Ann retired from MCPS. Now she could travel…. Really, she had been traveling all along. The benefit from United Airlines allowed her and the children to fly for free. She traveled to Hawaii several times and to Ireland when she needed quiet. She traveled to France, Italy, Scotland, and many trips to San Francisco to see her friend Verna. Vermont was another familiar destination to see Verna in the summer. This summer maybe China and of course the 80th Birthday Cruise.
For fun we asked Nana a few questions……
What have you always wanted but never got?
Nana: "To be tall and thin."
Name 5 items that you cannot live without:
Nana: "My cell phone, food, heat, my car and my house."
What personal possessions do you love the most?
Nana: "My mother’s jewelry or her antique furniture."
What is the bravest thing you have ever done?
Nana: "Driving cars that Pop Pop brought home; trucks, vans, old taxi cabs-the silver bullet."
What is the scariest thing you have ever done?
Nana: "Walking across the tressle on Lookout Mountain."
Who is your longest living friend?
Nana: "Peggy Ireland and next is Barney Robinson."
What is your favorite movie?
Nana: "Gone with the Wind."
What is your favorite Book?
Nana: "To Kill a Mocking Bird."
Do you have any obsessions?
Nana: "Clothes, shoes, Christmas gifts and texting."
What makes you happiest in your life now?
Nana: "Hearing from my grandchildren, sleeping in my own bed in my own house, being with my family- my whole life is my family!"
WE LOVE YOU NANA!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Some memories of when Margaret Ann was a little girl:
She played paper dolls with her sister Emily, that is until the paperboy caught them playing together. They had wonderful cardboard teenage-looking dolls and they divided them evenly and made up a regular life style with them. They would date one another, go to parties, and have arguments and more fun real life activities.
Margaret Ann and her sister would use the cardboard from their Daddy’s laundered shirts to draw on or make paper dolls. He would beg them to be patient and wait until he used the shirts.
On many Saturday’s the family would go to the movies for nine cents. They would see a cartoon and a news clip.
Margaret Ann’s mother would always save all of the tissue, ribbons and wrappings from presents so they could re-use them when they went to birthday parties. They had to iron them to get the wrinkles out.
Margaret Ann’s Daddy worked at a lumber yard- he was an estimator. He started out sweeping wood chips at a young age. He would bring home all kinds of wood chips and make small boards to draw on.
Margaret Ann’s mother would always make creative Halloween costumes for the girls but they always wanted a costume that came in a plastic bag from the store. The ones she made were always clever, but they could not see it then.
Margaret Ann’s childhood home had four fireplaces. Each bedroom had a fireplace and there was one in the living room and one in the dining room. In the winter that is how they heated their house. In the summer there were no fans and it was really hot.
Margaret Ann’s mother took a job at the dry cleaners so she could pay for piano lessons.
When the family’s radio broke, the girls begged for their daddy to buy them a TV. He bought a new “Cabinet Radio” instead of a TV.
Starting School:
In September of 1935 Margaret Ann started the first grade. She went to Notre Dame School; it was the only Catholic school in Chattanooga. She and her sister Mary Elizabeth, better known as M. E. or Emily rode the streetcar to and from school each day. It cost five cents each way. All of the teachers at Notre Dame School were nuns. Margaret Ann’s first grade teacher was Sister Patricia. She was very strict, Margaret Ann was afraid of her. She remembers that the boys used to put her long curls in the ink well. Her favorite teacher was her 3rd grade teacher, Sr. Antoninus. She was really sweet. Another favorite was Sr. Mary Phil. She visited Margaret Ann and family after she got married. Sr. Mary Phil was only 19 years old when she started teaching. At recess they played hopscotch, sling the statue and jump rope. In the 3rd grade Margaret Ann played the part of Mrs. Claus in the Christmas program, “Tommy’s Christmas Pie”. The part of Santa Claus was played by a boy named Reginald Stagmaier. (his name will come up again).
Notre Dame School went from grade one to grade 12. The 1st through 8th grades were on the first floor and grades 9 – 12 were on the second floor. So to go to high school you just had to go up stairs. Margaret Ann remembers how she was always the line leader because she was the shortest. There were lots of processions and she was always nervous because she had to carry the flowers and always know where to go. She received her First Communion in the 2nd grade and was confirmed in the 6th grade.
In the 7th grade Margaret Ann had to have her appendix removed. She had to lie flat for 3 weeks, (The next time she had surgery was in 2008, just 65 years later). Margaret Ann remembers going to her first dance in the 8th grade with a boy named Jimmy Lynch. She was so embarrassed because he was the only boy who wore knickers, everyone else wore long pants.
High School:
In high school Margaret Ann was in the Sodality where she was Vice-president her junior year and President her senior year. She was in the Science Club and the Spanish Club. She played the flute for the School Band (Who knew that?) and on the Marion Year Book staff, the basketball team and more… In December 1946 Margaret Ann opened a program In observance of National Fire Prevention Week by playing a piano solo, “Tis Raining” and closed the ceremony with a rendition of “Turkish Dance” by Mozart. One of Margaret Ann’s fondest memories from high school was when she got to be the blessed mother in the live nativity at the 5am Mass on Christmas morning with a real live baby. For senior superlatives, Margaret Ann was voted Most Representative Girl. We could have guessed that. She went to her senior prom with non other than Reginald Stagmaier. Her three best friends from grade school were Sara, Peggy and Jody. They all still keep in touch and are planning to go on a cruise this summer to celebrate their 80th birthdays. Margaret Ann graduated from Notre Dame H.S. in 1948.
College:
Margaret Ann went to an all girls college in Memphis, Tennessee. She received an art scholarship. She was vice-president of the student government, a member of the Angelus Glee club and the Sodality, the secretary-treasurer for the Spanish Club and many other organizations that we are waiting to hear about. Congratulations go to Sr. Albertus Mangus and Margaret Ann whose outdoor Christmas crib won the first place trophy in the City Beautiful 1950 Christmas Lighting Contest. That’s not all….. at the end of her senior year Margaret Ann Ford was crowned “Miss Sienna”. The article reads: One of the big “end of year” events, the naming of Miss Sienna and her court, took place at the Spring Formal on May 9, 1952. Miss Sienna of 1952 is Margaret Ann Ford, the “Little” lady who has done probably more than anyone else to promote that friendly feeling that is one of the endearing qualities of Sienna College. Margaret Ann graduated with a teaching degree from Sienna College in 1952.
Getting Married:
On February 14, 1953 Margaret Ann married the sailor George John Robinson. He was born and raised in West Philadelphia and he was in the Navy when they met. Margaret Ann was welcomed into the Robinson family by a very special lady named Eleanor, better known as Barney. Barney was married to George’s brother Albert. The two became fast friends and great supporters for each other from the very beginning. They have a treasured friendship that is like no other.
The Robinson family grew quickly. George and Margaret welcomed their first son George, Jr (bertter known as Rob) in November of 1953. In December of 1954 Chris was born and another son Mark came along in July 1956. Finally a baby girl was born in December of 1958. Beth – however, came with another brother. That’s how we got Joe. Patty was born in March of 1960 and last but not least, in September of 1961, Margaret Ann, better known as Peg was born. Some years have passed…. now there are 26 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Back in Chattanooga Margaret Ann’s sister Emily married Harold Sparn and had four children. Mary Margaret, Loretta, Phil and Therese. Luckily we could travel to Chattanooga for summer visits. Margaret Ann would board an airplane with all seven children to go back home for a relaxing visit. Many great and unforgettable memories were created on those trips. That had to take a lot of courage! In 1967 we also experienced one of the saddest memories, that of the untimely death of Emily, at the age of 39. Her youngest child Therese was only 7 years old. This had to be one of the saddest times for Margaret Ann. We continued the summer visits to Chattanooga but they were never the same. Death of her parents: Robert Ford died in 1965 and Anna Mae died in 1970.
Teaching:
As the children began to get older Margaret Ann began to substitute teach at Oakland Terrace Elementary. Her teaching certificate from Sienna College was not accepted here in Maryland. She had to earn 30 more credit hours, so she started taking evening courses at the University of Maryland. In the fall of 1972 she was hired as a permanent kindergarten teacher at Oakland Terrace. Some of her O.T. friends are here today, Mary Koaster, Connie Strachan, Suzanne Clewell and Eddy Turkington. Most of her years of teaching were at Highland Elementary School. And some of her dear friends from Highland are here today: Nancy Stearman, Carol Waldecker, Lola Gimmel and Vi Leach. Halloween was always a highlight for our Margaret. She was Peter Pan, Miss Piggy, Pinnochio, Little Bo Peep, The Little Mermaid, An American Girl Doll, Betsy Ross and one of our favorites… Mary Poppins.
At some point Sr. Kathleen found out Margaret was available. For several years now she has been filling in and volunteering at St. John’s where she is known as Nana. And this is where she has found many new “Best Friends” and admirers. Some of the kids even call her Nana when she is subbing, but that makes sense because she is everybody’s Nana.
Traveling:
In 1995 Margaret Ann retired from MCPS. Now she could travel…. Really, she had been traveling all along. The benefit from United Airlines allowed her and the children to fly for free. She traveled to Hawaii several times and to Ireland when she needed quiet. She traveled to France, Italy, Scotland, and many trips to San Francisco to see her friend Verna. Vermont was another familiar destination to see Verna in the summer. This summer maybe China and of course the 80th Birthday Cruise.
For fun we asked Nana a few questions……
What have you always wanted but never got?
Nana: "To be tall and thin."
Name 5 items that you cannot live without:
Nana: "My cell phone, food, heat, my car and my house."
What personal possessions do you love the most?
Nana: "My mother’s jewelry or her antique furniture."
What is the bravest thing you have ever done?
Nana: "Driving cars that Pop Pop brought home; trucks, vans, old taxi cabs-the silver bullet."
What is the scariest thing you have ever done?
Nana: "Walking across the tressle on Lookout Mountain."
Who is your longest living friend?
Nana: "Peggy Ireland and next is Barney Robinson."
What is your favorite movie?
Nana: "Gone with the Wind."
What is your favorite Book?
Nana: "To Kill a Mocking Bird."
Do you have any obsessions?
Nana: "Clothes, shoes, Christmas gifts and texting."
What makes you happiest in your life now?
Nana: "Hearing from my grandchildren, sleeping in my own bed in my own house, being with my family- my whole life is my family!"
WE LOVE YOU NANA!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
