Margaret Nowacki

Margaret (Meg) Helen MacKenzie Nowacki, of Hamden, CT died peacefully on Saturday, December 6, 2025. She was the widow of George W. Nowacki She was born May 25, 1941, in New Haven, CT, daughter of the late William Neal and Edith Hoit MacKenzie. She was predeceased by a son Neal A. Nowacki and her sister Elizabeth K. MacKenzie She earned a B.A. in Mathematics, with a secondary education certificate, from Sweet Briar College. She pursued graduate study under a National Science Foundation grant at Northwestern University and at the University of Michigan and Southern Connecticut State University. Margaret taught mathematics at several public and private schools, including Washington Irving Intermediate School in Springfield, VA, Kingswood School Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, MI, Sleeping Giant Jr High School in Hamden, CT and New Haven Hebrew Day School in Orange, CT. Committed to community service she was active in numerous capacities beginning in 1976 with the Wintergreen, Shepard Glen, West Woods, Hamden Middle and Hamden High School PTA. Active in numerous capacities with the Hamden PTA Council including 3 terms as President and Connecticut State PTA Board of Managers and as Treasurer. She served on the Hamden Youth Advisory Board, the Hamden Drug Task Force, and as a host for the International Student Center. She also served on the Hamden Police Commission and on the Board of Directors at Davenport-Dunbar Senior Housing Complex and Dunbar United Church of Christ, where she was an active member for many years. She also initiated the first Hamden-wide fingerprinting program for over 2,000 local elementary school children and coordinated a town-wide Intermediate Grades Spelling Bee for many years. Her broad involvement in community programs led to her being named Outstanding Woman of the year for Community Service by the Junior Women’s Club, Hamden Notable, NHHDS Teacher of the Year, receiving the Hamden Education Foundation Service Award, earning the Connecticut PTA “Spirit of PTA Award”, receiving recognition from the League of Women Voters and most recently in 2019 received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hamden PTA. Margaret, the beloved and loving mother, is survived by her daughter Katrina A. Nowacki of Hamden, her son Christopher M. Nowacki and his wife Kristen E. Nowacki of Hamden and 3 wonderful granddaughters. She is also survived by her sister Mary M. Shaw, brother William H. MacKenzie and many cherished nieces and nephews Along with her dedication to her family and community service, Margaret could be found supporting her grandchildren in numerous plays, softball games, dance recitals, and swim meets. She was an avid fan of the New York Yankees and UCONN Women’s Basketball. She enjoyed her time being a member of Paradise Country Club for years and sitting along the poolside with her friends. Margaret will be deeply missed by her great friends Mary Marrandino, Esther Kaplan, and Sandy White, who will forever cherish the memories and friendship they shared. Special thanks to the Yale Cardiac-ICU staff for the wonderful care they provided. Calling Hours will be Tuesday December 30th from 4:00pm – 6:00pm at Sisk Brothers Funeral Home, 3105 Whitney Avenue, Hamden. A memorial service for friends and family will be at Dunbar United Church of Christ and held at a later date, in the spring. Memorial contributions can be made to Hamden High School Girls Swim and Dive Team in memory of Meg Nowacki, made payable to Hamden High School Girls Swim & Dive, 2040 Dixwell Ave, Hamden, CT 06514.

Margaret Nowacki

May 25, 1941 - December 6, 2025