Born July 1, 1925 in Chappell, Nebraska, to Albert Patrick Brian and Maria Teresa (Leahy) Brian, Nellie Marguerite (Brian) Leipzig passed away suddenly of a massive cerebral hemorrhage at 12:55 am, November 13, 2017. She was 92 years old.

Marguerite moved with her parents and four older siblings from the family farm in Nebraska to Portland, Oregon when she was four. There she graduated from Holy Child Academy. She married George Victor Leipzig in Portland on June 14, 1947.

A stunning beauty, Marguerite enjoyed a modeling career prior to and during the early years of her marriage. She modeled clothing for a number of high-end department stores like Young’s Gown Shop and was employed to be a bank teller at a local Portland bank to attract new customers.

She and George moved to Redwood City, California in 1950. Even though she had nine children, she continued her modeling career at retailers like I-Magnin and Joseph Magnin. Marguerite wanted to connect into the local merchant community and join the Welcome Wagon organization where she excelled. She launched into an active career in public relations, running political campaigns and serving on countless boards and civic affiliations. Marguerite was the PR and Sales Director for Marine World Africa USA in Redwood City, the Sales Director of Seaport Village in Redwood City, and later the Sales Manager for the Circle Star Theatre in nearby San Carlos, California. Marguerite was so accomplished and could do anything, that the Circle Star Theatre owner asked her to also take on the management of the on-site upscale restaurant. She, her husband George and a number of the nine children all had roles at the restaurant.

Marguerite was elected to the City Council of Redwood City and served for ten years. She was also their first woman mayor. Marguerite served as a Redwood Port Commissioner and was instrumental in the development of the Redwood City area into what is now home to large internet and technology companies like Oracle, Google and many others.

When George retired in 1984, they moved to the Lake Wildwood gated community in Penn Valley, California. There Marguerite was elected to the Board of Directors of the Lake Wildwood Association and served as the President for a number of years. In 2007, she and George finally retired from public life and moved to McMinnville, Oregon. George passed away shortly after the move, and Marguerite lived in retirement communities for a few years before moving in with her daughter, Marguerite Jr. and son-in-law, Jeff Blackman in Vancouver, Washington. Marguerite Jr and Jeff still own the Leipzig’s home in Lake Wildwood.

Marguerite was the last surviving member of her immediate family. She was predeceased by her siblings, William Lawson Brian, Elizabeth Teresa (Brian) Donnerberg, Lawson Garrett Brian, and Rosemary Mildred (Brian) Woltring. She was also predeceased by her daughter Ann Frances (Leipzig) Bray by four months. She is survived by children George Victor Leipzig Jr., Peter Patrick Leipzig, Paul Anthony Leipzig Mia (Leipzig) Kama (birth name of Maria Teresa), Brian Richard Leipzig, Marguerite Elaine (Leipzig) Blackman, Gregory Xavier Leipzig, and Matthias Thomas Michael-Martin Leipzig. She is also survived by six grandchildren and four great-grandchidren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Marguerite was a faithful Roman Catholic and staunch Republican throughout her life. A remarkably strong, accomplished and resilient person, she will be greatly missed.

At her request, there will be no funeral service. She will be cremated and her remains interred with those of her husband George at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland Oregon.