Margaret Lee Wickstrom, February 5, 1935 – June 6, 2023

Margaret Lee Wickstrom was born on February 5, 1935 in Boston, MA to parents King and Hom Lai Lee, immigrants from Wun Chuen Village, Toisan, Guangdong Province, China.

Margaret is pre-deceased by her siblings Mary Hood and John Lee.

Margaret graduated with honors from Brookline High School, immediately matriculating to the Katherine Gibbs School to earn a certificate in secretarial skills. She was employed at MIT, and after working there for a short while, was encouraged to pursue her own bachelor’s degree. At the age of 28, Margaret enrolled at Boston University, School of General Studies, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in three years.

Margaret then enrolled as a PhD candidate in Psychology at Columbia University in New York. There, she met and married James C. Wickstrom, a psychiatrist, adopting Jim’s son Dan and later giving birth to their daughter Maj the same year her PhD was conferred. Jim introduced Margaret to Aviva Blumberg, with whom she shared a dear friendship for the rest of their lives.

Margaret and Jim raised their family in Rockland County, New York, where she established a thriving psychotherapy practice. Outside of her professional life Margaret loved to work in the garden and play tennis. She and Jim enjoyed sailing their boat, the Shanghai Lil, on the Hudson River. Although highly successful in her career, Margaret’s most ardent passion was always reserved for her family. After Jim passed away in 1990, Margaret moved to Nyack, New York where she lived happily overlooking the Hudson River until 2022.

Margaret is survived by her son Dan Wickstrom and daughter-in-law Cindy Wickstrom; daughter Maj Wickstrom and her late son-in-law Bernard Birnbaum; and grandchildren Evan, Morgan, Sarah and Noah. She also leaves behind her nieces and nephew Victoria, Elizabeth, Christopher, Samra, Sharon and their families as well as many dear friends.

A memorial service will be held Friday, June 9 at 10:00 am at Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester, 2125 Westchester Avenue East in Rye, NY.

Donations may be made to The Trustees of Reservations in honor of Margaret upon the occasion of her passing and her lifelong love of Crane Beach in Massachusetts.