Dr. Margaret Fitzgerald Sheridan Vercillo died on February 27, 2016 with her husband of more than 65 years and her youngest daughter at her side. She was 90 years old and had spent her last years courageously battling debilitating dementia.She was born on 10/21/25 as a 2 and 1/2 pound preemie and miraculously survived in an era when few premature babies did. She was a lifelong tenacious fighter for all she loved and everything she believed in.She was the beloved wife of Dr. Arthur Angelo Vercillo and mother to Susan Duprey (Stephen), Jean Vercillo, Arthur Vercillo (Melissa), Nancy Dietrich (John) and Mary Beth Vercillo and grandmother to her 9 adored grandchildren Meg, Tally, Charlie, Sheridan, Grace, Lilli, Thaddeus, Sam and Luke - each of whom she held especially dear.She came from a family of remarkable educational pedigree given their Irish immigrant roots. Her grandfather on her father's side was a doctor in Oswego, NY. Her father graduated from Amherst College and Harvard Law School. Her mother grew up in Manhattan and graduated from Columbia University and her uncle was a Rhodes Scholar whose moth collection resides at the Smithsonian.Margaret continued this tradition by graduating from Syracuse University in 2 years and was a pioneer as a very young female doctor in the 1940's by graduating from Syracuse University School of Medicine. She instilled the value of education in all her children and grandchildren and always sought to support and further all of their educations regardless of how late in life the desire struck.She loved her work but had 4 children in the first 6 years of her marriage. She made the decision to postpone her career to care for her family. Her 5th child was born 5 years later. During this time she volunteered her medical expertise and service to the school district and the Catholic Church.When all but her last child had entered or graduated from college she was able to pursue the career she had always longed for. She became medical director of the Syracuse Public School System and followed that job by becoming director of St Joseph's Hospital Emergency Room. Her final position was as a VP of MONY Insurance Company. She also served on the admissions committee of Upstate Medical School and in many other volunteer positions over her long career.She loved the sun and spent many years vacationing in Barbados and Italy and living in her Florida home.She will be missed by her family and the many people whose lives she touched.Please leave the family condolences and share memories on this website.