Making a Difference while You are Here and After You have Departed

In Honor of

Margaret Mary McCarthy Hoffman

In the early 1980s, I asked my friend Bob Burtchaell if he would act as Margaret’s conservator.

Margaret was getting older, had no family, and was Catholic. Bob agreed and, not only did an outstanding job as conservator, but developed a real friendship with Margaret.

In Bob’s words, his description of Margaret in meeting her and getting to know her was “an Irish woman, less than five feet tall, a failing body, a most interesting background, and a most wonderful spirit, not necessarily in that order!”

Margaret had no commitment to Central Catholic High School. Her desire was to have young people receive the opportunity for a Catholic education.

Margaret left a gift to Central Catholic’s endowment fund in excess of $250,000 (1980 dollars) that has provided more than 325 scholarships to Central Catholic High School students.

Each year, Bob tirelessly reads the numerous scholarship applications and the required essays submitted by the applicants.

Each scholarship recipient receives a letter from Bob. Here are some portions of Bob’s outstanding letter:

[So] you can better appreciate your gift, allow me to tell you about Margaret. Margaret married for the first time at the age of fifty-two, but life did not unfold as she had envisioned.

Shortly after her marriage, her husband fell ill, and she dedicated herself to caring for him for an astonishing twenty-seven years.

Margaret Mary McCarthy Hoffman was an ordinary woman who achieved extraordinary things. When we look at her pictures, we see a person no different from any of us, because, in truth, she wasn't.

Like many who lived through the hardships of the Great Depression, Margaret harbored a deep fear of one day being destitute, without the means to support herself. Her approach was to go without rather than spend money unnecessarily.

Despite never holding a managerial position or earning more than modest wages (with $7,500 being the most she ever made in her best year), Margaret managed to save over a quarter of a million dollars.

Prior to her passing, Margaret made an extraordinary decision—to give her money to YOU.

Margaret’s gift to you is more than money for tuition. Margaret felt great pride and comfort in her savings, but let me tell you, the real joy in her heart was in knowing how she could help you help yourself.

Allow me to offer a reminder and a challenge: Honor the life and spirit of Margaret, and these others, by showing honor to yourself and your family.

Do good things. Don't do bad things. You know the difference!

You become the gift ... a gift to this world ...

a gift to us all. Congratulations, Bob Burtchaell



Former Ohio Governor John Kasich was asked on the 2016 campaign trail why he, as a Conservative Republican Governor, was spending money on social support systems such as job training, vocational training, drug and rehabilitation services, mental health services and other social support systems. Governor Kasich stated:

We are all going to see St. Peter some day, and he is going to ask us ‘what did you do down there?’ I have an answer. Do you?

Margaret Mary McCarthy Hoffman

surely had an answer.



A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses.

Chinese Proverb

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts of the Apostles

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

Sir Winston Churchill