Marguerite Teresa (Hawke) Henderson passed away Nov. 12, 2023. She was born Dec. 27, 1928, in the Bronx, New York, to Mary and Harry Hawke. Her father was a captain at one of the city’s firehouses, back when engines were horse-drawn and accompanied by a Dalmatian. She had an older sister, Marilyn, and the family eventually moved to Ridgewood.
As a child she attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel grade school and graduated from Ridgewood High School. Always focused in her pursuits, she earned a B.A. in journalism at the top of her class from Douglass College in New Brunswick, which was only for women at the time.
Her first job was in the publicity department with Bonwit Teller, a luxury department store in Manhattan, and she was awarded the Gold Key for her outstanding performance as a new employee. She eventually married Laurence Robert Henderson and had five children: Robert (known as Greig), Macaire, Harry, Chad and Laurie, who were raised in Holmdel.
In 1964, Marguerite was invited to write a weekly social column for the Red Bank Register, which was published on Wednesdays and called “County Fare.” A few years later, when her children had all entered grade school, she secured a full-time position with what then became The Daily Register of Red Bank/Shrewsbury. She helped produce the paper’s lifestyle/panorama section, where her wit, humor and professionalism were appreciated. Her “County Fare” column continued to be widely read and she and her husband became fixtures at many county, state and national social and charitable events. She was honored many times for her work.
When the Daily Register closed, Marguerite joined the panorama staff at the Asbury Park Press where she continued to provide her unique coverage of the many social and charitable events throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties, retiring after a distinguished career in 2000 at the age of 72.
Despite her busy schedule, Marguerite was an amazing flower gardener and accomplished sewer and upholsterer. She very much enjoyed the beautiful home she created, as did her family for many years.
She and her husband permanently relocated to Naples, Florida, in 2006 to enjoy retirement and warmer weather. Laurence died in 2010. Marguerite lived to see her five children provide her with 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and leaves behind a legacy of generosity and laughter.
This article originally appeared in the November 23 – 29, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
