In Memory of Her: Margaret Mann

WATER celebrates the life of longtime friend and colleague Margaret Mann who completed her earthly existence on January 13, 2018. We extend sympathy to her family and many friends who will miss her as we do.

As Mary E. Hunt wrote in WATER’s review of Margaret’s book, A Dramatically Different Direction, “Margaret Mann is the Buddha on the road in a wheelchair. Hers is the story of a wise, generous, gutsy woman who gives new meaning to mindfulness, new depth to compassion. The book, like the woman, is a jewel.”

Margaret was a bi-racial Unitarian/Buddhist, a lesbian, and a community organizer par excellence who made her home in Hawai’i. She spent a few years as a Presbyterian Elder and participated in early WATER conferences, often donning a festive Hawaiian shirt for the events. She returned to her Buddhist roots in the early 90’s and found a home with the First Unitarian Church in Honolulu where they fondly call her a U-BU.

She worked in Washington, D.C. for twenty years on women’s issues at the National Women’s Health Network, the League of Women Voters, the Older Women’s League, and the National Osteoporosis Foundation. She also worked on disability issues at the Disability Rights Council and the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia.

Margaret Mann, a courageous and sparky spirit all of her life, left an indelible mark of humor, insight, and love on the world. We at WATER wish her eternal peace and pleasure.