Mr. Donald Freer

Donald Freer established this scholarship in honor of his wife, Margaret Murach. Margaret (Murach) Apkin-Freer was born in Adams, Massachusetts and was raised in North Adams. She attended Durry High School and graduated with high honors in the National Honor Society in 1975. Margaret earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from UMass Amherst in 1979. Her early professional career was spent working in the retail industry for: G. Fox & Co. in Hartford, CT; Filene’s Department Store in downtown Boston; Marshalls, Inc. in Woburn, MA; and later as a Store Manager for Marshalls, Inc. in Latham, NY. She worked part- and full-time as a Special Events Coordinator and Development Coordinator for the Berkshire County Chapter of the American Red Cross for 22 years. While at the Red Cross, she was honored with the Abby Brent Service Award and a Commendation from the Massachusetts State Senate in the early 90’s. Margaret also served as the Director of Development for the Pittsfield Community Music School. Serving on the Board of Directors for the PCMS, the Kids’ Place and the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, she helped to expand those organizations’ visibility and fulfill their missions. Margaret is the mother of Joshua, a graduate of Indiana University -Bloomington, and Elizabeth, a magna cum laude graduate of Northeastern University. She is a practitioner of yoga and a certified Reiki Master. Currently, Margaret is a self-employed Marketing and Development Specialist working primarily with non-profit organizations in Berkshire County where she and her husband, Donald, live with Petey, a Lhasa Apso and Frankie, a Teacup Maltese.

Please address thank you notes to:
Mr. Freer & Mrs. Apkin-Freer