Three Boettcher Scholars in one family is a rare and exceptional achievement. For the McFadden siblings—Edith (Edie), 88, Dave, 78, and Margaret (Maggie), 83—their shared commitment to education and service was shaped by deeply rooted family values, a rural Colorado upbringing, and strong belief in the transformative power of learning. Together, the siblings have spent over 71 years in education and academia. Edie taught middle school Spanish and music, Maggie became a professor of women’s studies and history, and Dave built a career as a Soviet-American scholar and history professor.
In 1928, their grandfather moved his family from rural Greene County, Indiana, to Bloomington so that his four daughters could attend Indiana University. There, tuition was free for in-state students, and the girls could live at home and work. That bold decision left a legacy of educational attainment that shaped future generations. Their mother, Glenora McFadden, was among those four daughters who graduated—a rarity in 1940, when only 3.8% of American women and 5.5% of men held college degrees.
“Our mother graduating from college made a big difference in our perspective,” Edie says, noting that her influence extended far beyond academics. “She was the car driver, the organizer, the singer, the shopper, the sewer, and the cook—the one who kept the calendar and told us what to wear.”
Their father, Rev. William McFadden, was equally formative. A pacifist and progressive voice in more conservative communities, he held advanced theological degrees and served as a Methodist campus minister and pastor throughout the mountain west.
“He ran the church, but we all helped—Sunday school, choir, typing bulletins,” Maggie recalls.
That spirit of commitment and service was true for all members of the family. During the Vietnam War, while the family lived in Springfield, Dave burned his draft card in protest—an act that prompted the local postal carrier to stop delivering mail to their father, the town’s pastor.
Still, the McFadden’s commitment to peace, justice, and open exchange of ideas never wavered.
As children of a minister, the McFadden siblings moved frequently—Indiana, Wyoming, Utah, and eventually the San Luis Valley in Colorado. Each location brought both challenges and resilience.
“We never stayed in one place more than a few years,” says Edie. “When I was in Price, Utah, I was the only Protestant in my 7th grade class. I didn’t have a lot of social connections, so I focused on being the best student I could be.”
In high school, she moved to Monte Vista, where she graduated in 1954.
She recalls a blizzard on the day of her Boettcher interview, but her mother was determined to make the round trip to Denver in a single day so Edie could return in time to play the organ at Sunday service.
Maggie’s path was equally determined.
“It was never a question about going to college; it was just how it was going to be paid for,” she says. Maggie worked at the Monte Vista Carnegie Public Library from 8th grade through high school, saving her earnings. Her passion for academia and activism led her from the University of Denver to Boston University, then to Clark and Spelman Colleges, and eventually to Appalachian State University in North Carolina, where she helped launch the first Women’s Studies program in the state.
Dave, the youngest, followed his own scholarly path, eventually becoming a professor at Fairfield University. His career has included authoring four books and numerous academic articles.
“Education was always very important in our family,” he says simply. “I always wanted to be a teacher,” adding that growing up in rural Colorado influenced his desire to stay in the state and go to school in Denver.
Asked to describe each other in three words, the siblings offer glimpses into their bond: Dave calls Maggie “passionate and committed,” and Edie “loving and patient.” Maggie describes Edie as “loving, helpful, musical,” and Dave as “demanding, purposeful, busy.” Edie describes herself as an “educator and good listener,” and her siblings as bright, driven scholars.
From helping with Vacation Bible School and Camp Fire Girls as kids, to launching interdisciplinary college programs, the McFaddens have always built community through learning.
Today, Edie lives in Highlands Ranch at Wind Crest Senior Living, where she helped establish a “Learners Group” and taught the “Great Decisions” curriculum for years. Maggie, now retired and living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is still writing and hopes to publish another book. Dave continues to teach and write from his longtime post at Fairfield University in Connecticut.
When asked what advice they would give to today’s Boettcher Scholars, their answers are as steadfast as their lives:
“Use your abilities to help people, and defend academic freedom,” says Edie.
“Don’t give up!” says Maggie.
“Value education, and keep learning your entire life,” says Dave.
The McFaddens remind us that the Boettcher legacy isn’t just about individual achievement—it’s about investing in others, standing firm in your values, and believing in the lifelong power of education to make the world better.
That’s the spirit of Boettcher.
