Throughout Margaret's
final months, not a day went by that we didn't hear her say, "When summer comes, I am going to go sit out by the pool and dip my feet in the water."
That was Margaret - she vowed against all odds that she would get better. This would be the culmination of a life driven by determination.
In 1942, Margaret found her way into a "boys only" physics class. At the time, teachers wouldn't let girls into physics classes, but Margaret persisted.
A few years later, when she attempted to land a job at the London Public Library in Ontario, she was turned down because employing married women was strictly prohibited. Margaret was finally hired by the University of Western Ontario's library, but there were more obstacles to overcome. Library rules at the time were that women had to leave the job after their third month of pregnancy. While pregnant with her first child, Margaret was hidden in the basement for an extra three months because her boss knew she needed the money.
Later, at another job as a university librarian, Margaret was fired for being too "ambitious." She pursued her goals, accepting a position at the University of Guelph. As the only woman heading a university library in Ontario at the time, she was a pioneer. In 1986, she became the first Canadian to win the Academic/Research Librarian of the Year Award from the Association of College and Research Libraries in the United States.
While pursuing her career, Margaret met her future husband, Art, at a mutual friend's wedding. They raised three children, Kip, Susan and David, in Waterloo and enjoyed 52 years together.
Margaret took up downhill skiing in her 50s and had a passion for reading about the American Civil War.
She developed caring relationships with her six grandchildren. One of her granddaughters once said she was fortunate to have her own example of a pioneer in her grandmother. When Margaret was fired for being too ambitious, she refused to resign herself to the fact that women would always be trapped in subordinate standings.
Margaret's determination turned out to be a mixed blessing as her health deteriorated. She reluctantly agreed to move out of her house, a home she had purchased from her parents in the 1960s. Although she dreamed of leaving her retirement home and returning to her house to enjoy everything she loved about it, including the pool, she passed away before that dream could be fulfilled.
Kip Beckman is Margaret's son and Sarah Beckman is her
granddaughter.