Marian Ruth Todd

MOUNT HOREB - Marian Ruth Todd passed away on Sunday, May 22, 2022, at age 94. Born to Pearl and Rev. Robert Peirce, she joined her two older brothers, Dr. Robert Peirce and Dr. William Peirce on Dec. 28, 1927. She grew up in Springfield, Mass., and then attended Denison University. There she met Rowland, her husband of 62 years. They raised three children: Judy Todd Campbell (Dodgeville, Wis.), Gary Todd (St. Paul, Minn.) and Brian Todd (Milwaukee, Wis.); two grandchildren, Elissa Todd (St. Paul, Minn.) and Jacob Todd (St. Paul, Minn.); and one great-granddaughter, Amara Todd (St. Paul, Minn.). Marian was preceded in death by her husband, Rowland; and her two brothers.

Marian, while raising three children, provided emotional support for Rowland in his various United Way positions as they moved from Cincinnati/Dayton, Ohio, to Rockford, Ill., to Appleton, Wis., to Madison, Wis., to Austin, Texas, and then finally back to Madison to retire.

While in Madison the first time, Marian taught 5^th grade at Hoyt Elementary School for five years and then, intrigued by the “Open Classroom” approach to education she returned to college and completed a master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1972. This led to becoming the Coordinator of Wingra School for four years where she could actively support this engaging approach to educating children.

After moving to Austin, Texas, where she was caring for her own aging mother, Marian decided to start the Seniors’ Respite Service to provide support to caregivers. She began from nothing, soliciting funds from local corporations, hiring and training staff to meet the needs of clients to provide this critical assistance. The service is still going today.

Returning to Madison, she was active in Dale Heights Presbyterian Church, and was Chairman of the Board of the Westside Coalition of Older Adults. As an active volunteer at the West Madison Senior Center, she worked on many local aging and disability issues. She also engaged in many other social justice issues such as compiling a book on appropriate multiracial books for children, volunteering at a homeless shelter and as a volunteer driver and dealing with local food insecurity problems by volunteering for Meals-on-Wheels and at the Faith Food Pantry.

When asked this last Mother’s Day ‘what was one important thing your mother taught you,’ it was that the world did not revolve around us but that we were an integral part of a broader, greater, global community so we always needed to think globally and act locally to make the world a better place for all people. Her favorite saying, from Jim Hightower, and really the philosophy of her life was, “Everybody does better when EVERYBODY does better.”

A private gathering will be held. Memorials to celebrate her life can be sent to: Wingra School, 3200 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Camacho Mount Horeb

Funeral & Cremation Care

500 N. Eighth St.

(608) 437-5077