Margaret C. Burnham, 92, of Vero Beach, passed away on Aug. 22, 2015, in Vero Beach at VNA Hospice House.
She is survived by her husband, John (Jack), of Vero Beach; her daughter, Arlene Owen of Sebastian; a stepdaughter, Judith Meisel of Cape Cod; and many grandchildren and great- grandchildren.
Burnham was born in Manchester, N.H. on Aug. 5, 1923.
She graduated from Central High School in Manchester and graduated from the University of Rochester in New York. Burnham began her career in Springfield, Mass. and quickly realized that because of her parents alcoholism her efforts should lie in that direction.
She and a group of concerned citizens began a campaign to raise funds for a halfway house for male alcoholics. The result was a 38 bed halfway house called Opportunity House and it stands to this day in Springfield.
Burnham was also the driving force behind My Sisters House, a 20 bed halfway house for women, one of the first such programs in the country. She followed this with a 30 bed Detoxification Center named after her. Along the way she found time to serve on the National Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, the board of Goodwill Industries, and the Mass Association of Alcoholism Providers. She is a 56 year friend of Bill W.
During her career she received the following awards, “Woman of the Year,” in 1981, honored by the Women’s Division of Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and “Outstanding Servant of the Public,” in 1977 from Springfield Television Broadcasting.
A Memorial Service will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, 2015 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, at 6th Avenue and 18th Street in Vero Beach. An online guest book may be signed at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.