Marilyn Lynne Isberg

I first met Marilyn in June of 1979 when I came to work at DDRC. Over the years we worked together on a number of projects and beginning in 1990 I was her Supervisor until the move to the Weiland Center approximately 4 years ago.

For many years Marilyn was the Evaluator for the AVS program bringing in new participants and learning how best to work with each individual. No one was better at this than Marilyn – she alone could discern who among the many staff personalities would work the best with an individual new to the program. And she was very rarely wrong in her assessment. Marilyn also served as a Program Manager for many years and for a time worked at the Archer facility with my husband Don Palermo.

DDRC has a tradition of honoring staff with a Years of Service Luncheon every February. The Supervisor of the person being honored always has the responsibility of writing a brief synopsis of the staff person's work. Having done this a few times for Marilyn I always thought of the same thing – she has been a loyal soldier working quietly with participants and staff all these years often completing work that others should have and without complaint. Sometimes people mistook her quiet nature and occasionally discounted her opinion – those who did so made an error in judgment. Marilyn was firm in her beliefs particularly when it came time to speak up for the needs of a participant in program. No one was a better advocate.

When I think of her now I will remember our mutual love of the Beatles (especially Paul McCartney), her love for her family and her devotion to the many "clients" whose lives Marilyn touched over the years. For Cliff, Kyle and Trevor I hope the sadness of recent days lessens with the passage of time leaving only pleasant memories of happier moments.

I will remember Marilyn always.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Marilyn loved deeply her time at DDRC and it showed.