— IVV Achievement Awards obtained Events: 600 Distance: 6,000 km. A memorial walk is the perfect way to remember Margy Klein, who walked purposefully and passionately through her brief life. Margy was a mainstay of the Columbia Volksmarch Club. She served as president, vice president, treasurer and offered her house as repository for the club's belongings. Her home also served as the club's official address.

Margy had over 600 walks to her credit. Her last walks were on a volksmarching tour of China the highlight of which was the opportunity to walk the Great Wall. Returning from that trip, she died following a tragic hotel fire. Her friend, co-worker and fellow volksmarcher Jean Gibbs was at her side and also perished.

Margy was easy going, friendly and bright. She was energetic and full of personality. Her life was never dull. She was always on the go, meeting friends, taking a class or going out to dinner. Her friends teased her that she was never home. In addition to walking, Margy had taken up running and was preparing to do a half-marathon. She was in the best shape of her life.

Margy was born in Ohio and grew up in Cincinnati as the oldest of three children. When her mother died, Margy helped raise her siblings. She was a big sister to them and later a Big Sister to others through the Jewish Big Brothers/Big Sisters program.

Margy graduated from Indiana University with a degree in business. Although she worked in the travel business much of her adult life, her first job was as a "rocket scientist" in Cape Canaveral doing programming for the first space shuttle. She left computer programming because she was looking for something more sociable. An uncle owned a travel agency and that sparked Margy's interest. The travel business seemed a natural for someone who loved people and adventure.

After working at Travel Destinations, a travel agency in Columbia, Margy took a job as a meeting planner for Travel Destinations Management Group in Owings Mills. Eventually, she moved into the company's technology group doing quality control. She was a certified travel planner and she believed in the power of travel to enrich people's lives.

Margy was a people person. She remembered birthdays and anniversaries.

Margy's family decided to donate her organs; five people are living today because of that gracious gift. Her family also decided to push for a law that will require hotel sprinklers in all rooms.