Margaret Grant Robertson met her husband, Jay Stern, while they were both working in the War Planning Office in Australia during World War II. They were married in April of 1947 and initially moved to Long Island, New York. Margaret loved the ocean and the artist community where they lived.
When Jay was called home to West Virginia to take over the family business, Margaret adjusted to a life she never envisioned. As a naturalist, she became involved with Mountwood Park, outside of Parkersburg. She was a devoted supporter of the Nature Conservancy.
Jay and Margaret built a home on a hillside overlooking wooded acreage in Parkersburg. Their home was frequently visited by all forms of wildlife, giving Margaret great joy as she sat at her table reading her favorite publication, The New Yorker.
Dinner at Margaret’s table was a delight for those who were lucky enough to experience her truly unique dishes. She loved to cook and enjoyed spirited discussions with her guests. She was a woman of strong opinions and she was not afraid to express those strong opinions, especially with her husband.
Jay and Margaret were deeply in love, even though they would often engage in heated debates. Margaret’s influence strengthened the vision for what the Interactivity Foundation might become. While Jay and Margaret never had any children of their own, they both had an immeasurable influence on those they “adopted” into their family. Some of them are still associated with the Interactivity Foundation today.
Margaret died peacefully at home with Jay by her side, reading her poetry, in 2004.
