Margaret Tjosvold celebrates birthday with big bash
by Elyse Kaner
Staff Writer
Guests were all smiles recently at Margaret Place apartment building for senior living.
Margaret Tjosvold greets guests Sara Clough, human resources director of Mary T. Inc, right, and Kay James, director of therapy services, to her 93rd birthday party. Photo by Elyse Kaner
But perhaps the biggest smile of all was flashed by Margaret Tjosvold, herself, as she greeted well wishers at the front door. Nearly 130 of them.
Margaret was celebrating her 93rd birthday at the Coon Rapids senior complex named after her. The noon party was orchestrated by her daughter Mary Tjosvold.
“I told her it’s not going to be my last one, so you’d better think about it again,” Margaret told ABC Newspapers in a joking manner, repeating a prior conversation with her daughter.
Inspired by Margaret’s late mother Rosa Camille Williams, a nurse and caretaker, and Mary’s grandmother, Mary founded Mary T. Inc., a family-owned business headquartered in Coon Rapids. The business provides services to senior communities and people with disabilities.
Margaret’s 93rd birthday coincides with the 35th anniversary of Mary T. Inc.
A special day
But friends, family, staff and Mary T. residents were gathered at Margaret Place Oct. 14 to celebrate Margaret’s special day. Organizers had hoped about 90 would show for the luncheon. However, so many streamed in to offer their good wishes, guests packed the dining room with the crowd spilling into the entry way.
Mary T., Inc. facts
• Family-owned business providing services to senior communities and persons with disabilities since 1976. Services include home health care, rental and senior housing, human service program options, independent living, hospice care and more.
• Started 35 years ago in Coon Rapids on land purchased in the 1950s by Agnes Mallery and Rosa Camille Williams, a nurse and caretaker. Rosa was Margaret Tjosvold’s mother and Mary Tjosvold’s grandmother. Agnes was Margaret’s sister and Mary’s aunt. Margaret and Agnes inherited the land (40 acres) when Rosa died.
• Camilia Rose Convalescent Center and Camilia Rose Group Home open in the mid 1970s
• Townhomes for independent living for people at the group home and low income housing for families are built in 1978.
• Construction for DeMar Children’s Home for behavioral-challenged and medically fragile children begins in 1982, later reopens as DeMar Catered Living for people with dementia in the 1990s.
• Built in 1890, The Brick House, the oldest brick house in Coon Rapids is renovated. Mary and Margaret reside there until 1991. It now houses offices for Mary T.’s supportive living staff.
• Margaret Place apartments for senior living is built in 1987.
• Villas by Mary T. for independent living, open in the late 1990s.
• Historic one-room schoolhouse built in 1884 is moved to Mary T. property, renovated and in 2008, becomes executive offices, meeting room and place for historic display of artifacts.
Other programs
• Mary T. has more than 31 homes to serve people with developmental disabilities.
• DeMar Catered Living, Eagle Street Catered Living and Creekside Cottage offer assisted living, memory care and respite care for older adults.
• CC Parkview serves people with traumatic brain injuries.
• Mary T. Home Health Services was started in 1994.
• In 2001, Mary T. of Maryland is founded, comprising seven residential homes and a day program to serve adults living with a brain injury.
• In 2009, Mary T. Hospice Services, servicing people in the last six months of life, begins.
• Mary T. Inc., now has locations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maryland and Arizona.
Dressed in Asian-style slacks purchased in the street market in Cambodia and a black and red floral sweater bought in Hong Kong, Margaret navigated among the crowd of guests as she gave and received an abundance of hugs.
After guests dined on a meal of chicken, penne and egg noodle pastas, salad and bread sticks, followed by a piece of birthday cake (carrot cake with butter cream frosting), the program began.
Laurence Dunsmore of London, England (Mary’s fiancé), sang an uplifting version of “Young at Heart.” He accompanied himself on the keyboard. Channeling Dean Martin for a rendition of “That’s Amore,” he asked the audience to join in. They sang jubilantly.
“You know you’re the best crowd I’ve had all day,” he said. (Slight pause). “You’re the only bloody crowd I’ve had all day.” Laughter rang throughout Margaret Place.
Dunsmore ended with a rousing “New York, New York.” The crowd clapped their hands to the music. Many sang along. Some, standing in the back of the room, kicked up their feet to the pounding beat.
Next, the audience was treated to a short video of Margaret’s life conceived and produced by Dunsmore. The film showcased birthday wishes from staff, family and friends, photos of her as a young girl to the present, her white hair framing her smiling face.
Mary presented her mother with a specially written book edited by Dunsmore, titled “Forever Young,” a celebration of an extraordinary life, a narrative of Margaret’s life story as told by daughter Mary T.
The story traces Margaret’s life, detailing her early years, school days, marriage, her children and her work. Among other chapters featured were her travels, African travels, in particular. The book included a section on Margaret’s paintings.
A hero
The birthday celebration continued with Mary reading congratulatory notes from Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar and the Minnesota Lynx basketball team (Margaret and Mary have been season ticket holders for 13 years). Margaret also received a card from President Barak Obama and Michelle Obama wishing her the best in the year ahead.
In an emotionally charged reading backed by Dunsmore’s music, Mary read the words to “You Are the Wind Beneath My Wings.”
“Did you ever know that you’re my hero and everything I’d like to be…,” she read to her mother.
“Margaret and I could not be here without you,” Mary said to the audience. “You are the wind beneath our wings.”
In closing, Margaret said but a few words. Succinct, well-chosen words.
“Thank you. Thank you for coming and thank you for being my friend,” she said.
Margaret continues to be the family role model and enjoys working with the Margaret Tjosvold School, a school Mary founded in Cameroon, Africa, in 2002.
Elyse Kaner is at elyse.kaner@ecm-inc.com
