Point Reyes Light - December 12, 2002
Madeline Merschrod dies
By Larken Bradley
Point Reyes Station resident Madeline Merschrod, a retired bookkeeper and civic volunteer, died at home Friday, Nov. 29 of complications resulting from a stroke. She was 86.
Native New Yorker
A native New Yorker, never in a million years would Mrs. Merschrod have predicted that in their retirement years she and her husband would pull up stakes and migrate from the Big Apple to rural California.
Living by the conviction that family came first, when their daughter and grandchildren needed support the couple said goodbye to lifelong friends and moved to West Marin.
Petite in size, but mighty in spirit, after settling into her new home, Mrs. Merschrod soon began serving on several committees at Point Reyes Presbyterian Church. She joined West Marin Senior Services and the Inverness Garden Club where she served as treasurer for five years. She volunteered at the Dance Palace, at Drs. Witte and Bourne’s medical offices, and at the thrift shop where she put in her final shift the day of her stroke.
An outgoing woman with an uplifting presence "she felt blessed to live in such a good community," noted her daughter, Lee Giamonna. "She thought her life was really wonderful."
Always counted on to supply fresh-baked brownies for fundraisers, Mrs. Merschrod was famous with neighborhood children for her cinnamon toast. "She single-handedly kept Wonder Bread in business with her cinnamon toast," laughed her daughter.
Married sweetheart
One of three children, Madeline Rothengaft was born June 16, 1916, in New York City. In 1940 she married her high school sweetheart, Richard Merschrod, who became a Long Island City firefighter.
She spent her career employed as a bookkeeper with the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. "She loved her job," reported her daughter. By working with a social service organization, "what she did reflected her values."
After her move to West Marin in 1980, Mrs. Merschrod and her daughter traveled to New York many times to visit family, shop at Bloomingdale’s, and take in performances by the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall.
She was predeceased by her husband.
Mrs. Merschrod is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Lee and Ciro "Butch" Giamonna of Point Reyes Station; granddaughter, Jill Sartori of Tomales; grandson, Tom Manning of Scottsdale, Arizona; several great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews in California and New York.
The family has suggested that any memorial contributions be made to Point Reyes Presbyterian Church; West Marin Senior Services; or to the Inverness Garden Club.