As Margie struggled with Alzheimer’s, she lost her ability to speak; her last words were “I love you.” She would utter this phrase freely and often—to family, friends, caregivers, or even strangers—and she meant it every time.

Born in 1947 and growing up in Orinda, CA, outside of the Bay Area, Margie had a challenging childhood. As the eldest of four siblings, she was largely raised by a single mother, JoAnne, who worked as a key punch operator. Money and even food was often scarce, but a close-knit family made the best of things. Margie excelled in both academics and athletics. She was an avid player of softball and basketball, played the flute, and was a straight-A student earning a scholarship to UC Davis. She also forged special bonds with her sisters Martha and Marilyn, who were her roommates both at home and at college.

In life and work, Margie was able to pull off the difficult combination of tough and sweet. She was a passionate scientist who had an unmatched tenacity and work ethic in the lab. While in graduate school for neuroscience at the University of Oregon in the mid 1970s, she was able to impress even her most skeptical superiors in an era with few women in science. Margie was unafraid and bold; she took on projects that no one else would touch. Her career included study of the locust common inhibitor, the neuromuscular junction, and the giant Mauthner Cell in fish.

In addition to being a dedicated scientist, Margie was an exceptional wife and mother whose love and kindness was infectious. She met her husband and fellow scientist, Anthony Auerbach, while in Oregon, and together they moved to Puerto Rico to continue their careers in science. In 1981, she gave birth to her first son, Eric, shortly before moving to Buffalo, NY, where she spent the remainder of her adult life. Three years later her second son Ben was born. Her attentiveness to her children and the ability to engage with each child’s specific needs were traits that made her a special parent.

Margie was often honest to a fault and was prone to telling her life story to random people sitting next to her on a plane or bus. Probably the most well-cited attribute amongst her friends and family was her knack for being silly. Margie was a “space cadet” and was known for randomly bursting into song, hamming for the camera, or putting underpants on her head and asking her kids, “Am I a normal Mom?”

Sadly, Margie’s final chapter in life was based around her long struggle with dementia. Throughout this 13+ year ordeal, Margie remained happy, positive, and full of love even as her cognitive and motor functions faded away. Perched in her living room chair, and even with her verbal abilities gone, Margie could still light up a room using sounds, hand motions, and her beautiful smile. It was also during this period that Margie’s family continued to grow, as Eric married his wife, April, and Ben married his wife, Samantha. In 2016, Ben and Sam welcomed Margie’s first grandchild, Julia. Margie was also surrounded by a skilled and loving group of caregivers who became part of the family.

On March 7, 2017, at the age of 69, Margie passed away peacefully at home from complications of her disease. She was a remarkable person and will be dearly missed.