Marjorie “Marge” Gilbert
By Dave Felice and Cara DeGette
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does.
— Margaret Mead
Marge Gilbert, an icon of Greater Park Hill, died Sunday, Sept. 21. She was 96.
Gilbert worked ceaselessly to overcome injustice, and was instrumental in the legal battle to integrate public schools in Denver. She also helped lead the fight to close down Stapleton Airport, in an effort to protect Park Hill from the roaring of jetliners overhead.
Gilbert died at her Park Hill home at 29th and Locust, where she had lived for 66 years.
“Those of us who had the opportunity to know and work with Marge will miss her greatly,” said GPHC Chair LeAnn Anderson. “She was truly a force to be reckoned with. She did so much for our community, and I am so grateful to have known her and to have called her my feisty mentor and friend.
“She was strong, smart as a whip and so passionate – she cared so much about people – all people – and her community of Park Hill and Denver. She was small in stature but mighty. Fearless when it came to equal opportunity and fairness for all people.”
Gilbert’s family and friends gathered for a celebration of her life on Sept. 26 at the Park Hill Congregational Church, United Church of Christ. There, they honored the woman who may have considered herself “a small town girl from Iowa,” but didn’t flinch in the face of injustice. Her mantra was, “Discrimination is flat wrong.”
In his 2012 book, Park Hill Promise, Denver historian Phil Goodstein described Gilbert as a “stalwart of the neighborhood.”
“She seemingly knew everybody, having an engaging ability to bring out personal details in the lives of those with whom she interacted. Most of all, she was omnipresent in [the Greater Park Hill Community].
“For a quarter of a century, she oversaw its blockworker program while fighting against liquor licenses and for what she believed was for the best of the area,” Goodstein wrote, adding that Gilbert provided “great assistance” in development of the book.
Gilbert received the United Way “Volunteer of the Year” award in 1978. GPHC honored her with the J. Carlton Babbs Outstanding Service award in 1983.
“Marge was a vigorous and long-term volunteer, attending Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation zoning committee meetings for many years, and always working for the betterment of the community, “ said Michael Henry of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods.
“She was energetic about zoning and liquor licenses from the beginning of the registered neighborhood movement (in the 1970s). Marge was always eloquent about protecting the Park Hill neighborhood,” he added.
The Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation Zoning and Planning committee held a grand 95th birthday party for Gilbert in June 2013.
“Marge was a pistol and could always shoot straight,” said Larry Ambrose, current president of the group. “The city is richer for her tireless work, and her absence creates a vacuum in the entire community.”
Said Anderson, chair of the board of GPHC, “I loved talking with her about current events, politics and the history of our community and Denver.
“I will miss her tremendously.”
Gilbert is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Gilbert-Macmillan and son Kent Gilbert, son-in-law Stuart Macmillan, daughter-in-law Beth Gilbert, and six grandchildren; Evan and Elise (Macmillan), and Daniel, Matthew, Joseph and Maggie (Gilbert).
Donations in her name can be made to Greater Park Hill, Inc., 2823 Fairfax St., Denver, 80207, or to the Boys and Girls Club (designated for the Vickers Boys and Girls Club), 2017 W. 9th Ave., Denver, 80204.
Editor’s Note: Additional remembrances of Gilbert’s life and accomplishments will appear in the November issue of the Greater Park Hill News. If you would like to contribute a favorite memory, email editor@greaterparkhill.org.