Margarita Truscott

Margarita Margo Ortiz y Pino Truscott, the first Hispanic woman to serve as the assistant executive director of Girl Scouts of Colorado, died Dec. 7 in Denver. She was 71.

Born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Truscott was in the last stages of becoming a Catholic nun before coming to Colorado in 1968, where she met and married the love of her life, Charles Truscott, who preceded her in death in 2005.

Truscott and her husband are known for a lasting love that was filled with joy and mutual respect. They had love, trust and friendship in one another. They celebrated life and traveled the world and when Charles died, Margo entered a slow decline in heath. Although she managed to continue to travel with her friend and caregiver Angie Malpiede to far-off places like Italy, Peru and Jerusalem, she finally succumbed to illness and reunited with her beloved Charlie.
During Truscott's 30 years of leadership in the Girl Scouts, the organization was considered one of the top councils in the country. She developed programs for low-income girls who resided in public housing projects. The Summer Alegria program provided day camp opportunities to the girls throughout the metro-Denver area at no cost.

She also oversaw all of the alternative programs in the council, including the Hispanic Mentor and African American Mentor programs for troubled girls, as well as the In-School Scouting program for girls and boys of low-income families in Denver Public Schools.

"She had a commitment to those who struggled and made sure they had grants to participate," said Malpiede, who also worked with Truscott during her time with the Girl Scouts. "She oversaw the membership unit, which provided direct service to 12 counties, providing girl scouting. Her team oversaw the recruitment and retention of leaders for more than 30, 000 young girls."

Truscott had a passion for empowering women. She served on a number of influential boards in Colorado, including the Mi Casa Resource Center for Women Board of Directors and the Denver Inner-City Parish Board of Directors. She volunteered with the nonprofits Zonta and Adelante Mujer.

Before moving to Denver, Truscott was a Maryknoll sister in both in St. Louis and New York. She earned a master's degree in sociology from Temple University in Philadelphia. She also worked briefly in Santa Fe, helping families adopt children.

Truscott is survived by a sister, Maria Catanach of West Chester, Pennsylvania; and a brother, Jose Ortiz y Pino and his wife Yolanda both of Galisteo, New Mexico; as well as several nieces and nephews.

She gave so much of herself to her family and community and made significant strides in the lives of young women. Margo Ortiz y Pino Truscott will be deeply missed.