Margaret McGowan "Maggie" Divelbiss
February 18, 1931 ~ May 16, 2023
We’ve continued our close contact with Maggie’s Family and are honored that our Visual Arts department has worked to restore the kinetic sculpture on our site that honors Maggie in time for the gathering. Maggie’s legacy and service to the Arts Center is made indelible in her being an Arts Center Honorary Trustee of Distinction. We stand ready to honor her and she forever lives on in the legacy of the Arts Center that she fundamentally helped to create.
Respectfully,
Andy
- A traditional Irish toasting here at the Arts Center July 25th at 5:00 p.m. in the Jackson Conference Center -
The one and only Margaret McGowan Divelbiss passed away on May 16, 2023, in Pueblo, Colorado, at the age of 92. Maggie, as she was affectionately known, was born on February 18, 1931, in Brooklyn, New York, to Gladys and Bartholomew McGowan. She was a proud graduate of St. Patrick Catholic Grade School, Pueblo Catholic High, and the University of Northern Colorado.
Maggie was an Irish powerhouse, always on the go. She loved to travel. She visited almost every continent in the world, from Hong Kong in Asia, to Mexico, South America, Africa and Europe, including, of course, Ireland. Irrespective of the location, her favorite trips were always with her children.
She was also a force to be reckoned with in her career. She taught at Seton High School and then moved on to teach middle school. Later, she became the CEO of the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center, where she worked for 38 years. She raised millions of dollars for the Center, obtained funding to build the Buell Children’s Museum, and secured funds to help the Arts Center remain a vibrant part of the city of Pueblo for many years post-retirement. During this period, for 40 years, Maggie was the Executive Director for Broadway Theatre League, bringing Broadway shows from New York City to Pueblo, a member of the International Women’s Foundation and the first woman on the Board of Directors for what is now U.S. Bank. Maggie was recognized with numerous civic awards, including the Mel Harmon Exceptional Service and Dedication to the Pueblo Community (1999), the Pueblo Community College Hall of Fame (2003), and the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation 2008 Annual Achievement Award.
Maggie was a political force in Pueblo. She was sought out by, and campaigned for, national Congressional and Senatorial candidates, as well as for state and local candidates. She was vibrant, confident, and opinionated. A woman ahead of her time.
Mag, as her children called her, will be deeply missed by her sons, Richard, Rod (Jan Butler), Michael (Susanne), and Mark Divelbiss (Katherine Fiore), and her daughter, Cynthia Uldrich (Jack). She is also survived by 10 grandchildren Tim (Kendall) Divelbiss, Jeff (Andrea) Divelbiss, Michelle Divelbiss (Mark Levy), Scott (Julia) Divelbiss, Thomas Divelbiss (Meghan Rhew-Divelbiss), Samantha Divelbiss (Kyle deGuzman), Alexis Divelbiss, Meghan Uldrich and Sean Uldrich, and three great grandchildren Delayne Divelbiss, Andrew Divelbiss and Kaitlyn Divelbiss. She was preceded in death by her parents Gladys and Bartholomew McGowan, and her brothers Jack and Robert McGowan.
Maggie worshiped at St. Charles Community, where she found friendship, peace and comfort. Maggie was greeted in heaven by her Irish relatives, and likely celebrated their reunion with a cocktail because “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere in the world.” Rest in peace, Maggie. You will always be remembered as a true Irish gem.
Catholic Mass at St. Anne Catholic Church (St. Charles Community) 2701 E 12th St, Pueblo, CO 81001, July 25th, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. Private interment has taken place at Imperial Memorial Gardens. Traditional Irish toasting of Maggie following the Funeral Mass at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center at 5 o’clock. Maggie requested for those who wish to make memorials, to do so in her honor to the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center http://sdc-arts.org/ways-give . Online condolences from Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center.