[Paddlewise] Marge Cline

I don't know if many Paddlewisers knew Marge Cline.  I'm sad to say she
died on Monday.

If you didn't know her, she was "River Mom" to many, many paddlers,
especially here in the Midwest.  Marge taught for years as an ACA ITE
(Instructor Trainer Educator), which means she certified people to be
instructors and to be isntructors who could certify other instructors.

She was named one the Paddlers of the Century by Paddler magazine and
had many other honors bestowed on her over the years.

But the greatest honor went to those of us fortunate enough to have been
loved by her.  If you met Marge, then you knew what it was like, at
least for that moment, to be the most important person in the world. 
That's how she made you feel.

Marge was a true problem solver.  She didn't get angry - she got
involved.  Not enough good instructors?  Marge gets trained to produce
more of them.  Need to borrow a boat?  Marge finds one for you.  When
her son committed suicide (a hideous story of how the legal system can
truly hurt people - he hung himself in a jail in Tennessee after jail
authorities were notified of his Bipolar Disorder.  They were in contact
with Marge for days, but buried him in a pauper's grave as a person with
no known family.  The story goes on and on) Marge used his story to
fight for better treatment of the mentally ill.  

Marge was not a serious racer but volunteered at every race.

She was a talented artist and played bassoon in a community orchestra.

Her signature paddling move was doing a headstand in a canoe while the
other paddler held the boat on a surfing wave.

Coaches motivate through many different techniques.  Marge had the very
best technique - love and kindness.


Jim Tibensky
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