The ACS Athens community recently lost one of its many accomplished alumni with the passing of Margaret Welk Cundiff in October 2025. Margaret spent only two years at ACS Athens, yet she remained a devoted member of our school community and regularly attended ACS Athens reunion events in the Washington, D.C. area.

After completing her studies and building a career at the Library of Congress, Margaret distinguished herself through her deep commitment to fostering a love of music among young people. For many years, she served in the creative arts ministry of the Living Hope International orphanage and school in Ndola, Zambia. Her annual visits became a beloved tradition, with countless children eagerly awaiting her return and the magic of music she brought into their lives.

The accompanying photo was taken in a Northern Virginia restaurant a few months before her passing. Pictured (from left to right) are Margaret, Ted Lopatkiewicz, and Diane Kambos Hamilton—all three classmates in 7th grade and neighbors in Ekali during the 1964–1965 academic year at ACS.

Margaret will be deeply missed by the many friends whose lives she touched, both within the ACS Athens community and across the world.