July 21 2017: ROOT, Margaret Braitmayer West

Margaret “Maggi” Braitmayer West Root

Margaret “Maggi” Braitmayer West Root, 95 years old, passed away quietly on June 24, 2017. Maggi was a lifetime resident of the Washington DC area, born in the District and also lived in Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Leisure World. She graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and attended Stephens College in Missouri and GW University.  Maggi West and Bob Root were married in April of 1944. Robert was serving in the US Navy while Maggi worked for the Canadian government office in Washington DC.

Mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, cousin, mentor, friend, benefactor, colleague, teacher, acquaintance … no matter what relationship you had with her, she always managed to make you feel like you were special and important.  She loved those she met while serving as a docent at the Custis-Lee Mansion, an aide at the National Cathedral and member of Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church and Unity Christ Church. She loved everything about the theater, particularly Olney Theatre Center, where she participated in every aspect of supporting their programs and facility. Maggi loved to garden and volunteered at Brookside Gardens as a guide, teaching others how to improve their own gardens. Other service organizations such as Welcome to Washington, PEO, Hospice Caring Inc. and humanitarian efforts around the world were vehicles to show her love for all humankind. A love of God’s creations fueled her desire to travel throughout the world. One of the first things Maggi shared with others was her love of all things connected to Great Britain and was thrilled when she learned her ancestors came from Ireland and Wales.

Maggi was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Krug West and Margaret Esther Braitmayer, her stepmother Alethea Bryan, brothers Charles and Bruce West, husband Robert William Root, and son-in-law Charles Muir. She is survived by daughter Nancy Root Muir, son Robert W Root Jr. and his wife Brenda, granddaughters Joy Muir (Edward) Mollaneda and Jennelle Root (Alex) Martell, grandsons Michael Muir and David (Jaclyn) Muir, as well as six great grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Collingswood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for their tender treatment of this beloved woman during the last weeks of her life.

The family also wishes to thank The caregivers of Home Care Solutions of Rockville, MD for their exceptional care.

Services celebrating Maggi’s life will be held at Olney Theatre Center on August 26, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.  In lieu of flowers, donations should be made in Maggi Root’s name to Hospice Caring, Inc. in Gaithersburg, MD.