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MARJORIE BELL Dr. Marjorie Bell Chambers, a restless, multifaceted and indomitable spirit has left us. Dr. Marjorie Bell Chambers died in her sleep at home before dawn on August 22, 2006 after a long illness. But she left an unbounded legacy of deeds, thoughts, and inspirations for her children and her students-spread around the world. As an educator and a born advocate of Women's rights, she mentored countless women, urging them to spread their wings beyond the narrow confines of home and hearth. She was dauntless and unceasing in her public pursuit of goals she perceived-passionate, intelligent, and forever challenged. Marjorie was a wife, mother, educator, politician, and activist leader-frequently, and most often successfully, trying to juggle those conflicting demands. Her education came in stages as her four children grew and left home, culminating formally in a doctorate in history and political science from the University of New Mexico. But she never ceased learning, retiring at age 80 from a quarter century as dean and graduate school professor of the Union Institute and University based in Cincinnati, OH. She served as President of Colorado Women's College in Denver, and as trustee and interim president of Colby Sawyer College in New London, NH. As a leader in the arcane world of non-profit organizations, she rose through the ranks to become national president of the American Association of University Women, and advisor to five US Presidents and four New Mexico Governors. She loved to teach youngsters and as a life-long Girl Scout, she was a troop leader, camp councilor, and ultimately chair of the Sangre de Cristo Girl Scout Council. Not content to be an academician, she longed to be make a difference in the world and a contribution to our times and culture-entering the practical side of politics as chair of the Los Alamos County Council, candidate for US Congress in New Mexico's new born Third Congressional District, and candidate for election as Lt. Governor of New Mexico. Among many other duties, she serves on the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education and the New Mexico Endowment for he Humanities. In connections with her interests and actions, she became an inveterate world traveler, speaker and collector-as well as a practitioner of the arts. She received many honors and awards-locally, statewide and nationally-much deserved but too many to list. Marjorie is survived by her husband Bill, a decorated veteran of the European campaigns in World War II and retired deputy associate director of Los Alamos National Laboratory; her children - Lee Chambers, William B. Chambers, Leslie Trujillo, and Kenneth Chambers; eight grandchildren; and her sister, Barbara Scanlan. The Memorial Service will be held at the United Church of Los Alamos, 2525 Canyon Road, Los Alamos, NM at 2:00 p.m. Monday, August 28, 2006. Interment will follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service. 1399 Luisa Street Santa Fe, NM 87505, 984-8600.
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