Dr. Margaret H. Pertzoff, a long time resident of Charlottesville and Professor of History Emerita at Randolph Macon Women’s College in Lynchburg, passed away March 8th at Westminster Canterbury after a long period of declining health. Born on the 4th of July1926 to U.S. Navy Captain George and Eleanor (Perry) Henderson, Margaret grew up and attended Weston, Massachusetts schools. In 1937, Captain Henderson was sent to the Philippines and his family accompanied him. In 1939, the family returned to Weston after completing a circumnavigation. Certainly these early voyages inspired Margaret’s life-long passion for world travel. Margaret graduated from Elmira College in 1947 with an A.B. in History. She received her M.A. and PhD in History at the University of Virginia.
Margaret began teaching European and Russian History at Randolph Macon Women’s College in 1967 and continued until her retirement in 1998, commuting weekly from Charlottesville to Lynchburg. She was honored with the Gillie A. Larew Award for distinguished teaching in 1971-72 and has held two of the College’s endowed chairs. From 1987-93, Margaret was the Theodore H. Jack Professor of History. In 1993, she was named as the Mary Frances Williams Professor of Humanities emerita. She was the 1995-96 recipient of the Katherine Graves Davidson award for being outstanding in bringing distinction to the college. Students describe Margaret as inspirational. Her course in European and Russian and are known equally for their popularity and rigor and challenge. Margaret amassed an impressive record of contributions to all aspects of college. She served on and chaired every major committee.
Margaret played an unforgiving tennis game and was an avid fan of the international tournaments. Margaret loved her gardens at Wintergreen Farm in Charlottesville and was proud of her culinary skills. Margaret’s long time support of the Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra reflected her deep love of classical music. Margaret enjoyed Christmas vacations in Vermont and Maine with her niece Tanya and her family. In the summer Margaret would return to Maine in search for the ultimate lobster roll. For years before her retirement she traveled with the children of the Fischer family to Europe and Asia including a trip on the Siberian Railway to Lake Baikal. Margaret had a great sense of humor: warm, dry, and ironic. At the same time she showed great compassion for her students and others in need.
Margaret was pre-disceased by three husbands: Joseph Bodine PhD, Vladimir Pertzoff Phd, and the late Dr. Ian Stevenson of Charlottesville and UVA’s Division of Perceptual Studies. Dr. Stevenson passed away in 2007. Margaret is survived by: two brothers, David Henderson of San Diego, California and George Henderson of Mamaroneck, New York; nephews David, John, and James Henderson all of San Diego; nieces Kathy–Lee Henderson Moles of Freemont California and Tatiana Pertzoff Fischer of Port Clyde, Maine; and several great nephews and great nieces including her god-daughter Ariana Fischer Gregg also of Port Clyde. Also, surviving Margaret are her longtime faithful caregivers, Anice Toms and Annie Berry.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to one of Margaret’s favorite charities: Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra or the Charlottesville SPCA. There will be a memorial service when the peonies bloom in the spring at Wintergreen Farm. Please call Emily at 434.296.2838 for actual date.
