IN MEMORIAM

Maggie Popkin self-portrait

We honor the memory of the following Buckingham Friends School community members:

Nils Falk - Alumni Parent

Maggie Popkin ‘16 - Alumnus

Sam Scoville - Former Faculty

Bruce H. Shankin - Alumni Parent

Margaret L. Swanstrom - Alumni Parent

Maggie Popkin ‘16

Alumni, died tragically on Nov. 18, 2019, after battling brain cancer. She was 17. A lifelong resident of Doylestown, Pa., Maggie was a student at George School in Newtown, Pa., where she would have been a high school senior. From an early age, Maggie was an enthusiastic and fearless performer - at home, at school and wherever she could find a willing audience. Maggie fell in love with musical theater at age 2, and, at every Broadway show, couldn’t wait to run to the stage door to meet the actors and ask them questions. Every Saturday morning for years, she practiced singing under the care of musical instructors and friends Bob Egan and Michael Traupman of New Hope. Last fall, Maggie sang for the last time in public, bringing down the house at Bowman’s Tavern with a performance of “Second Hand White Baby Grand.” Maggie was fascinated with medicine, and decided at age 11 that one day she would become a neuro-ophthalmologist to help people with visual problems related to the nervous system. She read the classic medical text, “Gray’s Anatomy” cover to cover, in the 6th grade. A precocious and mischievous third child, Maggie could always light up a room with a hilarious impression of a relative, or a song-and-dance routine that showed no fear. For her age, she also was a strong advocate for social justice and progressive values, and would not tolerate racism, sexism or intolerance. Her many loves included her friends and family: her boyfriend, Cooper; being a boarding student at George School and acting in plays; her dogs, especially Dottie and Ghillie; Santa Fe; the Oregon Coast; birding and nature walks; working at Vintage Alley in Doylestown; cooking with her sister, Emma; listening to her brother, Sam, play guitar and piano; speaking French, Russian, Latin and Hebrew; living with a host family in Russia in 8th grade, and celebrating her mixed Quaker and Jewish roots. After Maggie was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, she impressed her doctors with her knowledge of medicine and honest approach to her own diagnosis. She developed a special bond with her neuro-oncologist, Dr. Jean Belasco, at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). As a testament to her courage and caring for others, Maggie raised $15,000 for pediatric brain cancer research this year alone. She walked in CHOP’s “Parkway Run & Walk” fundraiser in Philadelphia in September, part of a group of committed cancer survivors, patients and families who raised $1.5 million to fund breakthrough pediatric cancer research and care at CHOP. Maggie will be remembered for her sheer joy of life, caring nature, raucous humor, fierce loyalty to her family and friends, and her infectious optimism. She will be loved and missed forever.

Sam Scoville

Former faculty, passed away on May 31, 2019. He taught at Buckingham Friends School from 1961-1964.

Bruce Shankin

Alumni parent, passed away on Thursday, December 19, 2019 at the age of 60. He was the beloved husband of Maria Palmer Shankin and the devoted father of Griffin and Marin ‘19. Born in Philadelphia PA, he was the son of Frances Levin Shankin and Leon Shankin. He graduated from George School in Newtown, PA and Antioch College in Ohio. Bruce was the founder of the Green Building Collaborative and was involved in sustainable building. He studied integrated design at Boston Architectural College. Bruce loved to play the guitar and sing in the choir at George School. He enjoyed time with his family and friends and his dog Caine. He was an active member of the Solebury Friends Meeting and the George School Choir.

Margaret L. Swanstrom

Alumni parent, passed away peacefully, Feb. 2, 2020. A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, Peg, as she was affectionately known, was 75 years old. Peg lived in and around Doylestown all her life. She graduated from Central Bucks, the original high school, and earned a B.S. in Art Education from Kutztown University. She loved her hometown, was a member of the Village Improvement Association, and volunteered with Meals on Wheels. For many years Peg taught Art in the Abington School District, then later at Council Rock Sol Feinstone Elementary School. She loved art - especially Modern and Contemporary - and she inspired her family to travel the world to see and experience art of all types: Phillip Johnson’s Water Gardens in Fort Worth, Texas; Rubens paintings in Lichtenstein; the giant Matisse paintings in New York; and the Sistine Chapel in Rome, to name a few. She was always ready for an adventure. Spending time with family at their summer home on Long Beach lsland, N.J. was another of her favorite pastimes. She loved the beach, especially the sound of the waves and the smell of the ocean.