Wednesday, Apr. 01, 2009

'Kite Lady' leaves legacy of flying

By Dalina Castellanos, Herald staff writer

RICHLAND -- The Tri-Cities has lost one of its high fliers.

Affectionately known as the "Kite Lady," Margaret Greger had a passion for life, said friends and family members.

The 85-year-old died March 11 at her Richland home.

Well-known in the kiting community, Greger wrote five books on how to make and fly your own kites and helped establish the Ben Franklin Kite Society.

She was named American Kite Magazine's Kite Person of the Year in 1996 and was inducted into the World Kite Museum's Hall of Fame in 2002 for her diagrams and clear instructions that inspired people around the world to build kites, according to information from the museum's website.

"She had a teaching ability and a teaching attitude," said longtime friend and fellow Kite Society member Larry Zilar of Richland.

"It's the reason she wrote books, to give other people the opportunity to enjoy the things she did as a child."

Greger made every kite she wrote about to ensure others could actually make and fly the designs.

"She was an extremely skilled seamstress," said her husband, Greg. "It helped in making the kites."

Greg says their home is filled with 60 to 70 different kites he and his wife made over the years.

She gave workshops on how to make kites to teachers and community members, which eventually led to her writing her first book, Blown Sky-High: Kites for the Classroom in 1977.

Zilar recalls meeting Greger in 1979 when he was looking for someone to help him build a kite. " 'Well,' she said, 'Here's the book.' "

Her love of kiting -- though present since childhood -- didn't soar until after her seven children grew up and left home.

She was "very smart, resourceful and creative in how she raised her kids," said her daughter Miriam Kuhn of Yakima. "Whatever interest we had, she supported it."

From dance to piano, Greger made sure her children were creatively encouraged, said Kuhn. "She was our personal patron of the arts."

Her skill as a seamstress provided many costumes for the plays she and the neighborhood children would put together.

"We would have 'after-supper games' and there would be 37 to 39 kids from the neighborhood playing in our yard," Kuhn said.

Events are planned today and this weekend to honor her mother's memory and love for kites.

The Ben Franklin Kite Society will have its annual kite festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Leslie Groves Park in Richland with a special remembrance ceremony at 2 p.m. to honor Greger.

A white kite will be released in her name to represent "cutting her loose from the earth," said Zilar, who will make a dedication at the ceremony.

Greg Greger will continue to support kiting by teaching at the parent and child kite-making session from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today at the Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Drive. Suitable for all ages.

For more information, call 509-942-PLAY.

* Dalina Castellanos: 509-582-1542; intern@tricityherald.com.