Margaret Warncke Krause

Margaret Warncke Krause

Troy - Margaret Warncke Krause died peacefully in her home, on March 1, 2007, surrounded by family and friends. A lifelong resident of Troy, she was a dedicated community leader. Her passionate and tireless contributions to non-profit organizations in Troy were an inspiration to all who knew her.

Margo graduated from The Emma Willard School and received a B.A. in Psychology from Vassar College. She initially worked as a Business Office Representative for the New York Telephone Company from 1954-1960. Margo then managed the company founded by her grandfather, W.P. Herbert and Company from 1963-1969.

Her volunteer work began with The Junior League, she was the President of the Troy Junior League from 1965-1967, sat on the national board and ran the most successful rummage sale in the history of the League. She was the first recipient of the League's Volunteer of the Year award in 1965.

During her long career as a Volunteer Margo chaired and sat on 32 Boards of Directors. She was the President of the United Way of the Mohawk-Hudson Area from 1982-1984, a Trustee of the YMCA, a Trustee of Emma Willard School and a past President of the Alumnae Association of Emma Willard. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Emma Willard in 1995. Additionally she was a Trustee and an Elder of the First United Presbyterian Church of Troy. She served on the Board of Governors of The Troy Country Club and was the Vice President of The Country Club from 1991-1996.

Among her many accomplishments, she was most proud of the years she spent leading and growing The Eddy and subsequently Northeast Health. As President of The Eddy Board of Directors for nearly a quarter of a century, Margo helped to innovate and improve the quality and delivery of senior care services in a way that profoundly affected not only the long-term care industry itself, but also the communities served by the Eddy. Her guidance and leadership guaranteed the evolution of The Eddy from a 19 bed nursing home in Troy to a comprehensive continuum of care, rehabilitation services and in-home care. Her strong belief in preventing premature institutionalization of seniors is reflected in the innovative programs and services The Eddy continues to provide through the Northeast Health network.

Margo's steady, long-term leadership of The Eddy was a strong force in the creation of Northeast Health, a regional, comprehensive, not-for-profit network of healthcare, supportive housing and community services. Formed in 1995 by the merger of The Eddy and Samaritan Hospital, Northeast Health has grown to include Albany Memorial Hospital and now reaches 15 counties and impacts over 350,000 people a year.

As Chairman of the Northeast Health Board of Directors, Margo actively worked to expand the reach of the organization geographically, and to implement expanded service offerings such as Alzheimer's and HIV/AIDS programs. As a result, people from rural to inner-city areas and people of all socioeconomic levels now have greater access to healthcare services. Margo was recognized for her contributions to senior care by The American Association of Homes for the Aging (AAHA) when they named her "Trustee of the Year" in 1986, and by The New York State Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (NYAHSA) when they bestowed the "Lawrence Larson Award" to her in 1999. In 2003 she was given the Women In Public Service Leadership award. When receiving these awards Margo always downplayed her own role, said it was a team effort and insisted that the success of The Eddy and Northeast Health were the result of the long and amazing collaboration she had with Craig Duncan, the President and CEO.

The Margaret W. Krause Center on Burdett Avenue remains as a testament and a legacy to her strong volunteer spirit and unceasing drive for excellence.

In addition to all of her community work, Margo was a fierce golfer and won The Troy Country Club Women's championship. With her beloved golf partner, Peg Duffy, she played in local and regional tournaments. Margo also loved to play bridge and in the last years played three times a week. Her presence at the bridge table will be missed by many.

Margo's favorite place in the world was her family home at The North Woods Club in Minerva, NY. She served as the Club's President, as her father and grandfather had in the past. She loved nothing more than to pack a picnic and some cocktails and take the family to Frank Pond for an evening of fun and laughter. A devoted, yet practical mother she taught her children a love of nature, how to drive a Jeep in a snowstorm and how to properly clean a trout.

Margo is survived by her loving husband of 51 years Robert Lockwood Krause; her daughter, Gwenllian Lockwood Krause of Brooklyn; her son, William Philip Krause of Shrewsbury Massachusetts and her sister, Lee DeRham of West Chester, Pennsylvania. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Rebecca J.S. Krause and two grandchildren, William Philip Krause II and Emma Pierpont Krause and two nieces, Linda Stedman of Flagstaff Arizona and Deirdre DeVries of Manchester, Vermont.

In lieu of flowers Margo asked people to send donations to The Northeast Health Foundation 2224 Burdett Avenue or The Eddy Visiting Nurse Association Fund for Kathy Buffaline, 433 River Street, Troy, NY.

There will be a Memorial Service on Saturday, March 10 at 11:00 at The First United Presbyterian Church , 1915 Fifth Avenue in Troy, followed by a reception.

Margo was truly a friend to many, a force of nature, a pillar of the community. Her spirit and always present sense of humor will be deeply missed by all who's lives she has touched.

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