Margaret (Dowling) Kimbell

“I thought it was a love story, and I was the hero, but it wasn’t about me.

It wasn’t my story at all.

It was Margaret’s.”

After twenty-one years with multiple sclerosis, Margaret Dowling Kimbell’s beautiful story concluded Thursday, July 1, 2021, at home surrounded by her loving husband, Greg, much-loved dog Gina, and superstar-caregiver Danielle. All are devastated.

Many people knew Marghie through one or more of her many passions and interests. She was a smart, strong, capable woman who was as comfortable with engineering and motorcycles as she was with art history and dance. When a modern dance instructor pointed out to the class that it was unusual to have not one, but two, engineers in the class, Marghie looked around and met Louise Kellogg, who became a lifelong friend.

Marghie was physically and intellectually active. One could count on Marghie to come up with the poem, quote, or Latin translation that fit the moment. Marghie was a force of nature, be it downhill skiing from Stowe to Aspen; cross country skiing at “McPheeterville”; on the dance floor anywhere there was good music; or riding her Ducati through the twisty backroads of Central NY.

She may have been most at home on the water and enjoyed a lifetime of sailing with family and friends from Connecticut to Maine. Some of her most treasured time was sailing with her sister Dorrie and family from Buzzard’s Bay to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Marghie enjoyed traveling and had adventures in France, Italy, Iceland, Jamaica, Scotland, and Ireland. Her Girl Scout days inspired a love of camping, which she enjoyed as an adult in places like Yosemite and Death Valley.

MS took all this away from her, slowly, bit by bit, over many years, until the only thing left was her soul. And what a soul it was.

She was predeceased by her parents Barbara and Peter Dowling, brother Tom, and her aunt, uncle, and two cousins. She is survived by her husband Greg, sister Dorrie (Steve), brother Jim, two cousins, and dog Gina.

There will be a private, family memorial later this summer.

Marghie’s last several years were made brighter by the loving care of Danielle Kisloski. One could not hope for better care or a better friend.

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