In Remembrance: Marge Collins

We lost a key member of our community, as Margaret "Marge" Collins completed her work on earth, and passed into the heavenly community on the morning of August 2, 2010.

Her contributions to El Cerrito were legion. If your organization needed a board member, or if your board needed a leader, Marge Collins was the go-to gal. Her enthusiasm in our community was strong, and it was contagious.  Her love affair with El Cerrito never wavered.

We see Marge as she again urged us to action. We can picture her as she led us in carols each Christmas season.

At the time of her death, she has been a dues-paying member of the El Cerrito Historical Society for well over twenty years.

She was for decades active in the Chamber of Commerce, and served on its Board for many years, and as its President.

She was dedicated to the Mira Vista Country Club where she was a contributing member for untold years.  She served two years as Captain of the Women's Group.  As an author, she wrote the definitive history of that Club, in her nicely researched and illustrated book Mira Vista Golf and Country Club 1920-1990.
Marge was President of the El Cerrito Soroptimists four different times between 1981 and 1990.

At the time of her death she was on the board of the local chapter of the moderate California Congress of Republicans, and its past president.  She had also served as president of the local Republican Women's club  for three years, 1988 through 1991.

Marge served on the El Cerrito City Council, and as our Mayor in the 1980's.  She was one of only four El Cerrito mayors who in the past forty years was elected Chair of the Contra Costa Mayors Conference, a very distinct honor, testifying to the respect she had as a leader among leaders.

She is survived by her husband, Marvin Collins, a retired contractor who built many homes and commercial buildings in this community, including the Sunset View Cemetery building in which memorial services for her took place on August 11, 2010.  Marge was the office manager for many years in Marvin Collins Construction, still a successful local business.

She earlier had been employed as an assistant city clerk for the City of Piedmont, and as such served a year as secretary to the Alameda County Mayors Conference.
Those of us who knew her will not forget her.  Marge had opinions, and shared them generously. 

She was a gracious lady, always, and if she disagreed with you, you remained friends because of her tact, and her obviously worthy goals. She saw what needed to be done in every situation, and spoke up to encourage the necessary changes.  At a time when we need more like her, she will be sorely missed.

Editor's note: More information about Margaret Collins can be found in an obituary notice provided by her family.