Margaret Bender Brick

Brick—Margaret Bender Brick, 90, on December 24, 2018, at Kendal at Longwood, Kennett Square, Pa. Peggy was born on July 20, 1928, in Glen Rock, N.J., to Dorothy Shapter and Edward Bender. Dorothy was a homemaker, and Edward was a salesman and stockbroker. The family lived for a year with Dorothy’s parents after losing their home during the depression. In Glen Rock, Peggy attended public schools, was highly active in Girl Scouts, and regularly attended the Methodist church by herself. A driven and high-achieving student whose relentless commitment to high standards continued throughout her life, she was the first female to receive her high school’s highest honor at graduation: the Good Citizenship Award. Each summer from ages 9 through 23, she attended Camp Te Ata, first as a camper and later a counselor, crediting this experience with helping her learn independence and leadership skills.

The first member of her family to attend college, she majored in sociology and psychology at Ohio Wesleyan University and did graduate study at Columbia University. She married Allan Brick in 1951 and taught at a school for the deaf in Chester, Pa. When Allan began teaching at Dartmouth College, they joined Hanover (N.H.) Meeting. In 1960, they happily moved to Baltimore, Md., where they joined Stony Run Meeting. A passionate educator through her life, once her children were in school, she taught in the Baltimore inner city in Project Mission, a program that prepared teachers for work in the inner city. She continued her education at Towson State University, receiving a master’s in education in 1971 and later doing extensive graduate study.

The family moved to Nyack, N.Y., for Allan’s work at Fellowship of Reconciliation, and they joined Rockland Meeting in Blauvelt, N.Y. She taught sociology, women’s studies, and human sexual behavior at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, N.J., for 18 years. Then she directed the Center for Family Life Education for Planned Parenthood of Greater Northern New Jersey until 1998, afterward consulting in sexuality education for seniors. Serving as board member and later board chair of Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), she continued to write dozens of articles and teaching manuals, and in 2007 established the Sexuality and Aging Consortium at Widener University.

All her life, she loved the outdoors and camping. An extraordinary and innovative cook, she crafted delicious, healthy meals for family and friends, often spending a year experimenting with a particular dish or cuisine. She participated in and supported Friends Committee on National Legislation, Friends General Conference, and Pendle Hill. When she and Allan moved into Kendal in 2003, she continued consulting, became a force within Kendal, and co-edited Experiences: Life at a Continuing Care Community.

Allan died in August 2018 (see previous milestone). Peggy is survived by her children, Deborah Troup, Pamela Shadzik, and Kenneth Brick; and five grandchildren. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be sent to the Chester Children’s Chorus in Swarthmore, Pa.