Margaret L. Kranz

Margaret L. Kranz, 94, who retired from her position as a international relations officer with the Agency for International Development in 1979 died on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018, after a brief illness in Newton, New Jersey. Miss Kranz was born in Freeport, New York. She studied piano at the Eastman School of Music, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Rochester. She earned her master's degree from Florida State University in Spanish and French.
She moved to Washington, DC in 1951 to work for the Institute of International Affairs. She then transferred to the US Agency for International Development when it was created in 1961. She coordinated a major emergency assistance effort in the Dominican Republic following the civil war there in 1965 as well as administrated the economic assistance program in Colombia in the early 70's; one of the largest in the world at that time. Her final assignment there was as Deputy Director for South America. She traveled the world making wonderful friends and treasured memories.
After retiring, Miss Kranz played the piano and organ at several DC area churches and became involved with the cultural activities including being a founding member of the Institute of Learning in Retirement at American University. She served on the ILR Board of Directors for 14 years.
In 2000, Margo was one of the first residents to move into Ingleside at Rock Creek and was a resident there until March of 2016 when she moved to Bristol Glen in Newton, N.J., to be closer to her family.
She is survived by her sister in law, Claire Kranz of Hardyston, N.J., niece, Kathy Baumann and her husband Stephen and her niece Margaret C. Kranz all of Vernon, N.J., as well as great niece Stepheni Baumann and her husband Josep Maria Fortea Rochera of Valencia, Spain, great nephew, Thomas Baumann and his wife Jordan Gianforte of Rumney, NH and great nephews Steven Rosal and Christopher Rosal of Vernon, NJ. She will be laid to rest at Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale, NY.
Donations in her memory can be sent to Holy Counselor Lutheran Church, 68 Sand Hill Rd, Sussex, NJ 07461. A memorial service will be held at Holy Counselor Lutheran Church on Wednesday, Jan. 17, with viewing from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. and a service beginning at 7 p.m. Funeral entrusted to the Ferguson-Vernon Funeral Home, Vernon, NJ, for directions and condolences see www.fergusonfuneralhomesnj.com.