Margie Sambold, owner of Fitts Photo in Hampton, was honored recently by the Business and Professional Women's Federation of New Hampshire for her many years of service to the organization and her community during the Seacoast BPW's monthly dinner meeting at Lamie's Tavern.

"Marge has served as a great leader and inspiration to the women of this organization," said Kathleen Chamberlain, of the Kingston chapter of BPW. "We would not be where we are today without her. She is a real pioneer among New Hampshire women."

Sambold has made her home in Hampton for more than 40 years and has continuously volunteered with many organizations the past four decades.

"I'm originally from Pennsylvania," she said. "My husband was in the Air Force when we first got married so we lived for about five years in Kansas and then another five years in Nebraska, before we settled in New Hampshire."

Sambold's husband was stationed at Pease Air Force Base in 1966. "They called it Portsmouth Airfield back then," she said. "It was so small back then. It really was a sleepy little town."

Sambold has three children and two grandchildren. Her son, Jim, and daughter Silvia, also a BPW member, both live close by. "They all live in Hampton except Angela. She's living in Concord now."

Sambold joined Business and Professional Women, Seacoast chapter in 1973.

"Over the past 34 years I have held every position at both the state and local levels," said Sambold, who recently stepped down as state BPW treasurer.

BPW is a national organization formed in 1919 to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information. Locally, members reach out to the community through activities such as sponsoring a Young Careerist, helping in blood drives, participating in the Susan G. Komen walk against breast cancer, offering Individual Training Programs (IDPs) to working women along with scholarships to women returning to the work force.

"She is a very giving, service-oriented woman and her years of service to BPW/NH are greatly appreciated," said Terri Lemire, BPW/NH president.

Sambold worked in banking for 10 years before moving to Hampton.

"For 18 years I worked at the local bank, however while I was there the name of the bank changed many times." she said, "I held a variety of positions and ultimately ended up as vice president in 1989."

During her banking career she belonged to the American Institute of Bankers and held the title of president one term.

"The banks back then were really there for the community and to help the customers. It didn't feel like it does now," she said.

Sambold and her husband, Albert, purchased Fitts Photo in 1978. Originally in Stratham, they moved the business to Route 1A in Hampton in 1983. Her husband ran the store until his death in 1998. She now runs the store with her son, Jim. It's an eclectic store for the serious hobbyist or collector where locals drop by to have film developed, talk photography, purchase model airplane kits and Boy Scout supplies.

In 1989, Sambold was invited to participate in People to People's Women in Management Conference in the Soviet Union. Women who attended were provided tours of Soviet cities and met with groups of Russian women to discuss women in management positions.

"They brought us to universities and introduced us to health-care workers, doctors and teachers," she said. "It was very interesting to see how different life was over there."

Sambold, a former commander of the N.H. Wing of Civil Air Patrol, recently donated two aircrafts that belonged to her late husband, Lt. Col. Sambold. "He had a Cessna 150 that I donated to the Congressional Flying Squadron. It will be used to train CAP Cadets to fly."

The other was a Stinson 10A used in World War II to fly border patrols. Sambold donated it to the Dean Cruise WWII Memorial Museum in Alburn, Ind.

Sambold and her husband joined the Seacoast Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary of the Air Force, in 1990. "We worked with both cadets and adults alike. A youth can join as young as 12," she said.

The Civil Air Patrol's mission is to offer cadet training programs, teach aerospace education, and conduct search and rescue missions. New Hampshire has seven CAP aircraft, she said.

"My husband loved flying," Sambold said. "We both worked our way up through the ranks." After her husband died Sambold continued to volunteer and finished four years as wing commander last fall.

Sambold enjoys reading, knitting, and hooking rugs.

"I can entertain myself from now to doomsday and not get bored," Sambold said. "When I was working in banking I intentionally did not get involved with the business, but now I work five days a week, soon I think I will turn it over to my son Jim and take a little time for myself."

LEARN MORE

Seacoast Business and Professional Women meets the third Thursday of every month at Lamie's Tavern [The Old Salt] in Hampton. The organization is open to all working men and women. For information, visit www.bpwnh.org.