Margaret M. Casanova, born October 1, 1915, passed away peacefully, February 26, 2015, at the age of ninty-nine. Margaret was born and raised in Payette, Idaho. She attended the University of Idaho where she was a member of Delta Gamma sorority. Margaret was a member and great supporter of the Catholic Newman Center at the University where in 2003, she established the Len and Margaret Casanova Scholarship Fund, for students who were active in Newman Center. She also was a lifelong member of the PEO Sisterhood.
Margaret married Leonard Casanova ’27, Bronco Hall of Fame football player and coach 1946-1949, on August 17, 1963. He was also a University of Oregon football coach and athletic director. She was a devoted Duck fan and traveled with the football team until two years before her death.
What was most important to her were family, friends and faith, he said. She set up the Len & Margaret Casanova Scholarship Fund to provide scholarships to UO students who participate in Catholic ministry centers at non-atholic universities. Casanova was a storyteller, a person who enjoyed life and radiated joy, and students responded to those qualities.
Margaret is survived by her sons Thomas, and Daniel, step-daughters, Margot Wells, and Andrea Casanova, grand-hildren, Kim Macon and Kieron Hathaway, Caroline Kahn ’94, Colette McClung, Monica Anderson, and a niece Janet Pence. Known by them as "Great Grandma Duck", she also had eleven great-grandchildren.