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Opinion: Marjorie Springmeyer — one of a kind


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Marjorie Springmeyer

Marjorie Springmeyer

By Kathryn Reed

MINDEN – I’m a firm believer people come into our lives for a reason – even if it is not immediately apparent why.

As a journalist I’m always meeting people. Some of those encounters are more profound than others and have a lasting impression. Such was the case with Marjorie Springmeyer.

What an incredible woman – and I only knew her for a fraction of the 93 years she was alive.

More than 125 people gathered Feb. 28 to remember Mrs. Springmeyer, who died Jan. 28.

She used to write me letters – longhand – talking about the city of South Lake Tahoe, her travels, life and a little about her family. We would converse by phone. When I saw it was her calling I would answer if I knew I had the next hour free to chat. She wasn’t one who would easily get off the phone.

Mrs. Springmeyer had such wonderful stories to tell about what life was like in Tahoe before it became a tourist destination and overbuilt. Her travels made me want to pack my bags.

I miss our talks – I’ve missed them for quite a while. I always thought there might be one more.

Her anger, frustration and heartache toward and because of the city are legendary. During the video of her life headlines involving some of that strife were shown – proving the significance it held in her life. She and her brothers, Knox and Bill Johnson, donated land for a City Hall that never got built. Instead, it’s where the police department and courthouse are in South Lake Tahoe.

Bill Johnson attended Saturday’s service, noting how his sister helped raise him because their mother was busy after their father died. Bill was 3 months old at the time and Marjorie 9 years old.

“When I think of Marjorie she always had a good spirit,” Mr. Johnson said.

He and others didn’t gloss over the difficulties Mrs. Springmeyer had to endure in her life – spending more than two years in a hospital after a car wreck in high school that killed one person and that left her with lifelong mobility issues, having her three children and husband precede her in death, being bed ridden for the last several years of her life, and all the land issues at the lake.

She had told me the friends were going to see “Gone with the Wind” the night of the accident. It was mentioned at the service this was her favorite movie. One has to wonder if it was just the most memorable.

Her brother and others also spoke of the goodness Mrs. Springmeyer brought to their lives and those around her.

Her long, flowing white hair and penchant to wear bright colored clothes were talked about. So was her love for travel, animals and helping others.

Three Washoe women spoke of Mrs. Springmeyer’s love of the tribe and how they had adopted her as a Washoe sister.

One relative talked about her fondness for donkeys.

In 2005 she told me, “I have a burro permit (from South Lake Tahoe). I pay $30. I used to have them at the amusement park. I keep it because they would never let me have another license.”

That is the spirit – some might call orneriness – which I admired about Mrs. Springmeyer. She was a fighter, a doer, a don’t take no for an answer kind of woman. I respected her for all of those things.

The wind was a constant refrain during the service – her love for it. Now I will forever think of Mrs. Springmeyer when the wind blows and listen just a little harder to what it might be whispering or howling.

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Comments

Comments (13)
  1. Lou Pierini says - Posted: February 28, 2016

    Kae, Thanks for saying all that.

  2. Robin Smith says - Posted: February 28, 2016

    Hail Marjorie RIP

  3. Kathay Lovell says - Posted: February 29, 2016

    It was a beautiful tribute for Marjorie. It was so nice of you to be there Kae . I enjoyed the family stories of her as a child and young woman. Truly a legend in our town and in Carson Valley. It was a privilege to know her for the last 50 years.
    Her legacy will live on especially with one of her last wishes was for her and the family to complete the sell of her land to Lake Tahoe Wildlife for their permenant home for their facility. It made her very happy knowing her land would be used to preserve a special place where animals will be rehab and released . For those animals that cannot will have a place to live out their lives at the facility and be a place to educate the community and visitors about our wildlife. Thank you Marjorie for all you have done for South Lake Tahoe. You will be missed.

  4. Tom Fay says - Posted: February 29, 2016

    I first met Marjorie in 1947 and new her very well.
    Thank you Kae for this wonderful story, she was a fine lady.

  5. Joyce Blackstone says - Posted: February 29, 2016

    What a lovely article you wrote about Marjorie. Thank you – she deserved this recognition.

  6. jonnie crawford says - Posted: February 29, 2016

    Thank you, A very nice story We have lost a very fine lady. She will be missed. I hope the city does something to honor her for all the things she has done for the city.

  7. Les Wright says - Posted: February 29, 2016

    Thanks Kae
    That was a very nice tribute to her.
    She was as sharp as a tack. I met her at a city council meeting 45 years or so ago.
    She introduced herself to me as I sat next to her. Said that she had met my college roommate back in DC at the Kennedy Center while sitting next to him at a performance. She even remembered his name from that meeting 2 or 3 years before.

    I have always thought she and her family should be honored in someway for their contributions to our town. I would think that naming a new City Hall after her and her family who have donated so much to our community.

    The South Lake Tahoe Springmeyer City Hall has a nice ring to it.

    Les Wright

  8. Diana Hamilton says - Posted: February 29, 2016

    I met Ms. Springmeyer at a City Council meeting, 20+ years ago, when she expressed her displeasure with the council in general and the City Hall not being build on the donated land specifically. Councilman Tom told her that once donated she no longer had control over it, so you can imagine her reaction.

    She was a terrific roll model and a true pioneer woman of Tahoe. I’m honored to have been acquainted with her & like Les’ idea, “SLT Springmeyer City Hall”.

  9. Virginia Glenn says - Posted: February 29, 2016

    What a lovely tribute to an amazing woman. I only met Marjorie once – about 30 years ago. I was getting in my car to go to an exercise class and she stopped to ask if my VW was for sale. An hour and a half later we were still talking! I preferred listening to her adventures to exercising. I especially liked her memories of spending summers as a child at the Lake with the Washoe tribe members collecting pine nuts. She was definitely unique! What a pioneer.

  10. nanctahoe says - Posted: March 3, 2016

    The early Tahoe settlers were a special breed & Margie was a fine example of the imaginative, strong, funny, giving people. The Washoe tribe got it, even tho the SLT city council didn’t.. Margie & her family certainly should be remembered in some meaningful way.

  11. BaddogLT says - Posted: March 3, 2016

    I guess it is finally time to remove the “Conservancy” overlay from the “Marjorie Ann Johnson Springmeyer Conservancy” sign on Al Tahoe.

    You see, underneath it says “Memorial.” Only problem was, she still had a lot of life left when they put the sign up! She was pissed yet amused. But, she probably didn’t expect better of the local agencies.

  12. Lou pierini says - Posted: March 3, 2016

    BadgogLT, You have bad information.

  13. Catlapper says - Posted: March 4, 2016

    Beautiful tribute to Marjorie, Kae!