Photo courtesy of Sharon Fox

Our congregation was sad to learn of Margot's death last week (February 26th). She was a brilliant woman who instilled her own passion for social justice in her children and all those around her. Her loving relationship with her husband Charles served as beacon of light to friends and family. Margot will be truly missed.

A memorial service will be held April 5th at 3pm at First Presbyterian Church Palo Alto.

We invite you to send messages to be added to this page and shared with his family. Email craig@wkmn.com if you'd like to add your thoughts, stories, or prayers.

The Palo Alto Daily ran this story about Margot:

Dr. Margot Loungway Drekmeier, mother of Palo Alto Vice Mayor Peter Drekmeier and one of the founders of a Stanford honors program called "Social Thought and Institutions," died Feb. 26 at the age of 75.

Born March 14, 1932, in Boston, Drekmeier was a longtime resident of Palo Alto, moving to the city with her husband, Charles, in the late 1950s. She graduated with a degree in history from Oberlin College, where she was president of the student council in her senior year. She continued her education at Harvard University and studied for a year at the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, France, on a Fulbright grant.

Drekmeier met her husband during a party at his house when he was a graduate student at Harvard. He recalled that she was the most striking woman in the room -- tall, with dark hair that she attributed to her Iroquois heritage.

The two married in 1958 and moved to Palo Alto, where Drekmeier taught in the Western Civilization program at Stanford.

The couple and two other faculty members founded the "Social Thought and Institutions" honors program, which spanned 23 years. The program often took place in the Drekmeiers' living room.

Past American Historical Association president Lynn Hunt in a 2002 newsletter described a seminar on Rousseau taught by Drekmeier as "the single most rewarding course I ever took as a student."

Drekmeier also taught music history classes at Mills College in Oakland. After the birth of her children, she taught less frequently. In the 1980s she volunteered as an instructional aide at Jordan Middle School in Palo Alto.

"No matter the age of the immediate audience, she always talked about serious things as well as funny things," her husband said. "She never talked down to anyone."

As a mother, Drekmeier was described as someone who instilled tolerance in her children. She had early caregiving experience - with her father serving as a Navy chaplain in World War II and her mother ailing, she acted as a mother to her three siblings.

The Drekmeiers would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary later this year.

Drekmeier is survived by her husband, Charles; her brothers, John and Duncan Loungway; her children, Nadja May, Peter and Kai; her grandchildren, Emily and Beatrice; and many nieces and nephews.

According to her family, "Margot will be remembered as a loving mother and wife and for her deep commitment to human rights, social justice and environmental protection."

A memorial is planned for 3 p.m. April 5 at First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto.

E-mail Bernadette Harris at bharris@dailynewsgroup.com

From Norma Grench:

I will always remember Margot as a person who encouraged and mentored my becoming involved in peace and justice issues at First Presbyterian. She was articulate and steadfast in her understanding and support of these issues. She was a delightful and loyal friend, also.