Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Marian McQuade, 91, who persuaded governors, Congress and then-President Jimmy Carter to set aside a day to honor grandparents, which has proved to be a boon to the greeting card industry, died Sept. 26 at a nursing home in Hilltop, W.Va. She had Alzheimer's disease.

Mrs. McQuade, a mother of 15, grandmother of 43 and great-grandmother of 15, began her campaign to honor grandparents in 1970. In 1973, West Virginia became the first state to recognize grandparents.

She eventually petitioned the rest of the country's governors and Congress to set aside the day. In 1978, Carter (D) signed legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as Grandparents Day.

Several of her children and grandchildren work on the nonprofit National Grandparents Day Council.

A statement released Friday by her family included a quote by Mrs. McQuade that she considered herself the "luckiest person in the world" for having an understanding family and for her work with seniors and creating the day.

Marian Lucille Herndon was born Jan. 18, 1917, in Caperton, W.Va. She started working on senior issues in 1956, when she helped organize an event honoring West Virginia's octogenarians.

She went on to become vice chairman of the West Virginia Commission on Aging and served on the state Vocational Rehabilitation Foundation and state health system agency. She was appointed to the nursing home licensing board.

Her work on health care and nursing homes led then-President Richard M. Nixon (R) to sign a proclamation in 1972 declaring National Shut-in Day.

Mrs. McQuade also ran unsuccessful campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives and state Senate.

Her husband, Joe L. McQuade, whom she married in 1936, and two sons died before she did.

Survivors include 13 children; 43 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

-- From Staff and Wire Reports