Marian Perregaux was born on September 8, 1928 in Burlington, Indiana to Roy and Waneta Brubaker. In her second year at Indiana University, She married Joeseph L Bingham, father of her five children, Mark, Susan, Annie, David, and Elizabeth (Betsy). After living in married housing at Indiana University and later Michigan State University until her husband completed his Ph.D., they moved to New York. Following a divorce, Marian was a pre-school teacher and resumed her education, graduating with a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College at the age of 41.
After a move to Rochester NY, Marian was active in the civil rights movement and it was no surprise that her first job there was Educational Supervisor at the Baden Street Settlement in the inner city. She developed innovative curricula designed to foster pride and self-worth. Marian then spent many years as the Executive Director of the Edgerton Day Care Center. As a member of the Board of Directors of the Westside Health Services, she met the new Executive Director, Edmond A. Perregaux and they married two years later.
Together they moved to Massachusetts where Marian became the Executive Director of Big Brothers/ Big Sisters. Active in the community, she volunteered at the Samaritan suicide hotline and on the Religious Education Committee at the Andover Unitarian Fellowship. Her interest in religious education led to a position as Director of Religious Education. Following a move to Fairhaven Massachusetts, Marian worked as a Social Worker in an Adult Day Health Care Center. Her final job before retiring was the Director of Religious Education at the Unitarian Church of New Bedford. In Fairhaven, in their 1835 historic home, she and Ed hosted the Captain Delano House Bed and Breakfast.
Retiring to Carbondale CO in 1997, Marian fell in love with Mt Sopris, Mountain Fair, the beauty of the valley and the spirit of the town. In Carbondale, she volunteered for Lift-Up, the Unitarian Fellowship, as well as in the elementary and middle schools. After September 11, 2001, Marian organized The Hysterical Society of Carbondale, “for the preservation of laughter and good times”, which is an on-going group of women who meet monthly for lunch.
There was nothing Marian enjoyed more than travel and she was fortunate to see much of Europe, Canada, and the United States with her sister Jean, her husband Ed and sometimes on her own. She traveled solo to Africa and Saint Lucia in her 80’s! Other interests included reading, cooking, entertaining, listening to jazz and enjoying visits from family and friends.
In September 2010, after 31 happy years of marriage, Marian lost her husband, Ed. She continued to be active and engaged in life, blessed with many friends, family and her two beloved Shih Tzu’s.
Marian leaves behind her children, Mark Bingham of Breaux Bridge, LA, Susan Scofield (John) of Katonah, NY, Annie Ward of Boulder, CO, Dave Bingham (Lisa) of Hailey, Idaho and Betsy Bingham-Johns (Dwight) of Carbondale, CO. She also leaves behind 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her grandchild Evan Scofield. She also leaves Ed Perregaux 111, “Little Sister” Natasha Parker and Gary Lettan ( Rosemary). Marian’s brothers Myron and Alan and sister Jean live in Indiana.
Marian’s motto in life was “Pick yourself up. Dust yourself off and start all over again” and she wanted everyone to know that it was a great journey and she departed with gratitude and curiosity.