Obituary for Margaret Morrow Ziff

Margaret Morrow Cox Ziff died peacefully in her sleep at home in the early morning hours of Wednesday November 1, 2017. Mrs. Ziff, who went by her middle name “Morrow” was a Springfield resident for 45 years. She grew up in Baltimore, Maryland in the enclave of Towson and attended Towson High School, graduating in 1959. She then attended the University of Maryland where she studied French and English. After college Mrs. Ziff, then Miss Cox worked as an airline stewardess for a small airline that flew passengers to domestic and international locations. She enjoyed visiting many destinations, most notably Hawaii, Ireland and Thailand where she stayed for six months teaching English to Thai soldiers.

After returning to the United States Mrs. Ziff taught public high school French and English in Maryland. She met her husband Lloyd Ziff (died 1996, Philadelphia, PA) in 1966 while he was serving as an Army Chaplain’s assistant in Aberdeen, Maryland. They were married in January 1967 in Baltimore and honeymooned in New England. They moved to New Jersey where Mrs. Ziff taught high school until she was visibly pregnant with her first child in 1968. They moved to Philadelphia during this time where Mr. Ziff attended law school. They moved to Springfield after Mr. Ziff graduated, renting a house on Powell Road. After the birth of their second child in 1973 they moved to their house on North Highland Road where Mrs. Ziff resided until her death on November 1, 2017.

Mrs. Ziff was an active community servant and volunteer both in Springfield and in the nearby city of Chester, PA. She attended Saint Matthew Lutheran Church in Springfield where she taught vacation Bible School and was a member of the church’s Alter Guild. She was an active church member for 43 years.

Always an avid reader of the Philadelphia Inquirer and the New York Times, Mrs. Ziff acted on her interest in current events, political issues and the betterment of society by becoming a member of the local chapter of the League of Women Voters, a national non-partisan organization that educates the public about political issues, the process of elections and local and national government. Mrs. Ziff served as president of the Springfield League of Women voters in the mid 1970’s.

Mrs. Ziff, a former teacher, was an active volunteer in the Springfield Schools that her three children attended and she also served as a volunteer at Chester High School for the honors students’ Key Club that was supported in part by the Chester chapter of Kiwanis, a national non-profit organization. She also was the treasurer for the Chester chapter of Kiwanis. In the city of Chester Mrs. Ziff served as an intern while earning her Masters’ degree at Villanova in Human Organizational Science, for the Chester Community Improvement Project, a non-profit that served homeless families, aiding them in finding and maintaining affordable long-term housing. After graduating from Villanova in 1994 she stayed on as a volunteer for the Chester Community Improvement Project. Mrs. Ziff also organized children’s programs for the Martin Luther King Day of Service in Chester for a number of years.

In Springfield Mrs. Ziff served as an elected School Board Director in the mid 1990’s. She also took an active role in the 90’s and 2000’s as a member of the local chapter of the American Association of University Women, serving as a committee woman for the Springfield Democratic Party and as an active member of the local Democratic Party in Delaware County. Mrs. Ziff was always seen on Election Day handing out Democratic Party ballots at the polling place in her residential fifth ward of Springfield.

Mrs. Ziff was always fond of tennis and she played the sport throughout her life at many local courts both indoor and outside. For the past 10 years or so she was a regular player at Idle Hour in Drexel Hill. In her more recent years Mrs. Ziff scaled back somewhat on her community activities in order to spend time with her grandchildren who affectionately called her “Maizie.” She always made time to attend their birthday parties and school and activity events in Springfield and Media. She loved spending special occasions, holidays and beach vacations with her family. In her spare time Mrs. Ziff loved to read novels and non-fiction and she was a crossword puzzle enthusiast always completing the New York Times crossword puzzles. A an animal lover throughout her life Mrs. Ziff was often seen walking her dogs on her street and through her neighborhood greeting friends, neighbors and passer-bys with friendly words and a smile.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent in her name to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave, Montgomery, AL 36104.

Beloved wife of the late Lloyd R.. Devoted mother of Tina, Courtney and Robert (wife Stephanie).Loving grandmother of Lukas, Madeline, Kenneth, Bodhi and Kylie. Sister of Lynne Coles and late John Cox.

Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing Wednesday morning from 9:30-10:30 AM in Saint Matthew Church 400 Lynbrooke Road Springfield followed by her Funeral Service at 10:30 AM . 

Interment: Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, PA.