Margaret Jo-Anne “Joy” Erdman (Lampson) died peacefully at SunCoast Hospice on May 8. 2023 in Palm Harbor, FL at the age of 85.
Margaret is survived by her husband, David Erdman of Palm Harbor, her daughters Kirsten Rhoads (Doug) of Eudora, KS, Alison Richards (Carl) of Tampa, FL, and Lauren Erdman (Paul Donner) of Albuquerque, NM, her sister Kathleen Kim Lampson Reiff (Dan) of Mercer Island, WA, and four grandchildren; Dale Roussel (Lawrence, KS), David Richards and Orion Richards (Tampa, FL), and Wyatt Donner (Albuquerque, NM).
Margaret was raised in Verona, NJ, and graduated with the class of 1956. In 1960, she graduated from Bates College, where she met her future husband, David Erdman. Upon graduation she worked at Perkins School for the Blind until she married David and joined him in Germany where he was serving in the army.
Margaret enjoyed living in Germany and befriended the children of her host family to learn conversational German. It was in Germany where she had an opportunity to begin exploring her artistic talents. After two years, Margaret and David returned to Perkins School for the Blind where they were both employed as teachers.
Margaret always loved the ocean and in 1968 she and David moved to the seaside town of Scituate, MA to raise their three daughters. Nearly every summer day was spent with her children at Peggotty beach. She was active in the community advocating for recycling, marching to save the marshlands and joining co-op groups to promote organic whole foods long before it was fashionable.
Margaret leaves a legacy of the Erdman Preschool that she started in the family home in 1972 to provide a discovery-based preschool for her youngest daughter. The Erdman Preschool recently celebrated its 50th year anniversary. After the preschool grew and was moved out of the family home, Margaret began a 32-year career as an elementary school teacher in the Hingham, MA school district. Over the course of her career, Margaret taught from Kindergarten through 3rd grade. She focused on reading skills and supporting struggling learners. She is well remembered for her classroom activity centers and using puppets as learning tools.
After retirement, Margaret moved to Cohasset, MA and later to Dunedin, FL.
Margaret was passionate about teaching, but her true love was always her art. She was a talented artist who loved to sketch and paint. Her drawings were often of her favorite subjects – the Scituate Lighthouse and her King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, Sunshine.
She attended the Christian Science Church of Boston, and continued her spiritual journey at the Vedanta Center of Cohasset, MA and St Ignatius of Antioch Roman Catholic Church of Tarpon Springs, FL.
She is remembered as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who encouraged her family to find their passion and pursue their goals.
A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 1:00 pm on June 5, 2023, at St. Mark’s Village Chapel, Palm Harbor, FL followed by a reception in the Club Room. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Margaret’s life. A dedicated mass will be held at St. Ignatius of Antioch Roman Catholic Church, Tarpon Springs, FL at 6:30 pm on Saturday, July 15, 2023.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to support Sickle Cell Disease research. American Society of Hematology Sickle Cell Disease Initiative Fund.
