Margaret Weiss Littmann believed a meaningful life involved helping others. MARGARET WEISS LITTMANN / 1913-2001
Kauai YWCA benefactor
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also led League of
Women VotersBy Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.com"She lived her life like that," said her daughter, Terry.
Littmann, known for her activism for women and children, died in her Kapaa, Kauai, home on Oct. 23. She was 87.
Margaret Weiss Littman was born on Nov. 24, 1913, in St. Louis.
In 1959, she started working at Roeper City and County School -- a school for gifted children in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. -- as a speech correctionist and a psychological examiner. She remained the school psychologist until 1974, creating the school library and donating her entire salary to the school scholarship fund.
"She always thought educating children was a priority," Terry said.
A year after moving to Kauai in 1974, Littmann started teaching Parent Effectiveness Training in several locations. Because the program was franchised, Littmann was required to charge for courses, but paid for those who couldn't afford the sessions.
In 1977, she helped found the YWCA-Kauai Women's Center. Within two years, she and her husband, Sidney, purchased and renovated a building for the YWCA Shelter for Victims and Family Violence.
Littmann was president of the League of Women Voters on Kauai from 1981 to 1983 and was later recognized for Outstanding Voluntary Service and given the Ninth Annual First Lady's Outstanding Volunteer Award. In 1988, she became board president of the YWCA on Kauai.
Littmann is survived by her three children -- Paul David Littmann, Marianne Irene Ashby and Terry Littmann -- and her brother Jacob Weiss.
A celebration of life will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at 4625 Anolani St., Kapaa. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to a charity to benefit Kauai's children.