Martha Porter Kilgour

Dear Friends, Please join us for a memorial service to celebrate all the qualities we loved about Martha Porter Kilgour. You are invited to Olbrich Gardens on Thursday, April 29, 2010 @ 4 PM. We as a family want to publicly say Thank You for all the nurturing joy she brought into our lives. We encourage you to bring and share stories about Martha. There will be an ‘open mic’, or you can share them informally. Or you might write down rememberances before-hand. And pictures, too?!(No book or movie is planned, (: but we want to enjoy Martha thru your eyes for years to come.) We’ll call this “The 4 PM Story Time”. Please invite anyone else who would enjoy being around warm, heartfelt folks who have Martha on their mind. Of course, for a Martha-event we’ll need piano music, some singing, and poems. Then about 5:30 we will sit down for supper. “Feel free to come when you can, don’t leave til you must.” Sincerely, Chris, Sarah & Bill Kilgour Chris 608 513 4202 Sarah 414 915 4860 Bill 608 255 4947 B9kozmo@charter.net Olbrich Gardens 3330 Atwood Ave. Madison, 53704 NE side of Madison MARTHA PORTER KILGOUR She was born next to Tenney Park and passed-on there Tuesday, April 13, 2010. But her active life took her far beyond that base to many regions and expansive ideas. She was always active and a bright student. After Lapham School, East High, & Principia College, she got her Masters in Science Education at UW. She taught in Beloit, Hyannis, MA. and Tokyo, then at Gompers & Lakeview in Madison. At the Nishmachi International School in Japan she learned to appreciate diverse cultures and lifestyles. Her fond memory was roaming with close friends in remote villages and small islands of Japan in 1962. On the way home through Alaska she spent 2 weeks camping with women naturalists at Mt. McKinley. It was a bonding with nature that lasted a lifetime. When she was finally willing to marry in 1964, Bill was the lucky guy she honored. Their plan was to teach either in the Navajo Nation or in Japan, but settled down to teach in Madison and be close to their parents. Summers allowed long trips. When the family grew in 1970 she became the Mom who nurtured good judgment in her kids. Music lessons required daily PRACTICE time and only one hour of TV, --usually. The kids felt free to bring lots of friends home any time. She supported Scouting and enriching theatre participation. Martha promoted and managed family camping trips and an eight week ramble in UK when our kids were young teens. Chris and Sarah recently switched roles by taking Mom to camp; Writing-in-the-Wild included kayaking and her scarey ‘flying squirrel’ antics harnessed high on the ropes course. Making music was her joy ever since piano lessons at age 4. She played viola and recorder. She taught Suzuki Piano to parents and children. Two years of classes led to a long career as a registered and enthusiastic piano tuner. That was nice, but the real soul of music was found at the Sonata Piano ‘Camp’ in Bennington, Vt. Every year since 1998 she came home saying, “Bill, this was the best year ever.” That week+ with adult piano players was the highlight of her year. It was a challenge energized by skillful teachers and warm fellowship; and fun. All year long e-mail enlived the dialogue in the ‘Fellowship of the Sonata’. She enjoyed continued lessons and music-together with a strong cadre of Madison pianists. “God Bless the Whole World - No Exceptions!” That defined Martha’s firm view of human relations. It guided her in minor and major decisions, from hosting overseas students to adopting our children. And that view of the Family of Man motivated traveling with an open mind and a generous heart. She loved practicing the concepts of Christian Science as a way to push back the narrow dependence on material things, and to understand the fullness of Life as modeled by Christ Jesus. It was an easy bridge from her interest in physical science, math and music. Martha was also active with state capitol history buffs, Tenney-Lapham, Euturpe, Madison Audubon, UW Arboretum, and parks volunteers. She was devoted to the progress of our church. Martha was the 4th of 5 children born (1933) to Ruth and Phillip Howe Porter. Ruth was a gracious Mom and community-builder. Phillip was a generous father and practiced transportation law. They created a well-bonded family. Her brother John had four children: Phillip, John, Betsy and Andrew. Sister Peggy Farquharson was mother of Mary, Phillip, Leigh, and James. Mary Leigh Herdegen raised Martha, Ruth and Robert. Sister Elizabeth was a cheerful star in the Special Olympics. We all feel that our best memorial to Martha is to actively reflect the qualities we so dearly loved in her. That way her qualities are sure to live on, just as music lives on. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to support First Church of Christ, Scientist, 610 S. Segoe Rd. or YWCA, 101 E. Mifflin St.