Margo K. Santoni

A service in celebration of Margo Santoni of Granville will be held at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, June 29, 2017 in Swasey Chapel at Denison University with Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Applegate as celebrant.  A reception will follow at Bryn Du Mansion with a time for special remembrances.

Margo passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. 

Marguerite Ada Kiene was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1932 to the late Catherine D. and Dr. Hugh E. Kiene.  Margo grew up with three younger sisters in a home filled with warmth, Sunday dinners with relatives, and dancing.  In overcoming polio at the age of 10, Margo’s amazing resilience and life-long ability to transcend her physical disabilities first manifested themselves.  She graduated from Classical High School and then went on to study sociology at Smith College and the University of New Hampshire.  Margo pursued further education in social work at Boston University and worked in children’s adoption services in her early career. 

In 1953 she met Ron at a religious conference and fell unabashedly in love.  Ron was equally enchanted with Margo, her embracing smile, and beauty of being. It was love at first sight for both of them. They married in 1955 and began their family life in Paris where Ron pursued his lifetime interests in French philosophy and Margo exhilarated in life abroad as well as acting as Ron’s assistant at the historical Sorbonne.  Margo and Ron went on to have 6 wonderful spirited children.  Family homes included:  Stockton, California, Crawfordsville, Indiana, New Haven, CT, Cambridge England, and of course their cherished Granville. 

The family moved to Granville in 1964 where they found a satisfying and creative academic community at Denison; a supportive and progressive religious community in St Luke’s Church; and a sometimes challenging yet fundamentally loving community in the village.  Countless friends of their children, Denison students, and many an unnoticed soul found a home away from home at 500 Burg Street. 

As their children became independent and pursued their own dreams, Margo and Ron continued to enjoy a vibrant life together.  Their persistence in social activism continued throughout their lives.  They were involved increasingly with The Open Door Community in Atlanta, Georgia: a community which strives to dismantle racism, homelessness, and other injustices.

During Margo’s final years, as health issues increased, she was buoyed by her loving husband, joys shared with her children and grandchildren, an amazing group of women friends and their husbands, zooming around town in her special version of a Rolls Royce, and flower gardens.

This beautiful human being, our beloved Margo, brought light, humility and inspiration to a world often darkened by self-centeredness, indifference, violence, and injustice. We will miss her incredibly.  She will always remain a model of genuine love, grace, compassion, and kindness. 

Surviving are her adoring husband of 62 years, Ronald (Ron) E. Santoni;  six well mothered children and their spouses, Tina and Enrico of New Haven, Marcia and John of Manhattan, Andrea of Columbus , Juanita of Philadelphia, Jonathan and Julie of Cape Cod, and Sondra of Granville ; her beloved grandchildren: Gus, Mikayla, Chaz, Montana, Kira, Kiana, Jesse, Mia, Connor, Jack, Emma, Margo, and Grady; her devoted sisters and their spouses, Catherine and John Forrest and Julie Kiene and Mitchell Cohen; and her brother-in-law, Sam Hart.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her beautiful sister, Lynne Hart, and her dynamic son-in-law, Carl Upchurch.     

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Healing Art Missions (Healingartmissions.org), St. Luke’s Church Outreach Committee, or Medicins Sans Frontiers.  

Arrangements are in the care of McPEEK-HOEKSTRA FUNERAL HOME in Granville.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.mcpeekhoekstra.com

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