Canoe fans feel loss of 'River Mom'

Those in the kayaking and canoeing community referred to Marge Cline simply as "River Mom."

It was a term of endearment for the Cary resident, formerly of Palatine, who had taught literally thousands of people to paddle, and was one of the driving forces behind the Salt Creek Park District's "Paddle in the Park" event held for 12 years.

The event took place at Twin Lakes in Palatine, in conjunction with the park district's "Party in the Park."

It was designed to give visitors a chance to experience a variety of watercrafts in a safe environment.

Mrs. Cline headed the instructional aspect of the fest, organizing the paddling clinics and getting the instructors. She and chairperson Sigrid Pilgrim, of Evanston, wanted to draw as many people as possible to the event, to hook them on the sport.

Now, her legions of friends are mourning her passing. Mrs. Cline passed away Oct. 29. She was 66.

"Her enthusiasm was contagious," Pilgrim says. "She was a great teacher, and she just had a way of communicating how to effectively use the body and the paddle to maneuver the boat through the water."

Mrs. Cline was raised in Mount Prospect and attended Arlington High School, where among her many activities, she played bassoon in the orchestra -- which she picked up again at 58 and played in the Mount Prospect Community Band.

Friends say she started paddling a dugout canoe at the age of 8, and her interest never waned. In fact, friends say, that typically, Mrs. Cline spent every possible weekend on the river.

As an adult, Mrs. Cline became active in the American Canoe Association, in which she was one of about 20 certified Instructor Trainers nationally, and later served as the president of its Midwest division.

Mrs. Cline also became active with Chicago Whitewater Association, writing its newsletter for 28 years, and American Whitewater, of which the she was president from 1982-1988.

About 35 years ago, Mrs. Cline expanded her paddling sports to include kayaking, when she and her husband, Bob, took lessons at the Lattof YMCA in Des Plaines.

By all accounts, she took to it like a fish to water, and she enjoyed both solo and tandem kayaking. At the same time, Mrs. Cline also enjoyed open boat canoeing and "freestyle canoeing," described as doing choreographed moves in a canoe, to music.

One of her signature moves was doing a headstand in the bow of a C-2 while surfing a wave with a trusted stern partner, which had nothing to do with freestyle canoeing.

"That was pure Marge," Pilgrim says. "She was definitely a character."

Mrs. Cline's friends at the Chicago Whitewater Association have mounted a memorial to her on their web site, www.chicagowhitewater.org.

Among her many accomplishments, they include an honor she received in 2000, when Paddler Magazine named her as one of 100 "Paddlers of the 20th Century" who have made a difference.

Mrs. Cline is survived by her husband, Robert; daughter, Kathy (Michael) Ullrich; and sons, James and Joseph Cline; and granddaughter, Carmen. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Marietta Sandford of Mount Prospect; an infant daughter, Patti Jo; and son, Michael.

A memorial service for Mrs. Cline will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Woodstock Bible Church, 770 E. Kimball Ave. in Woodstock.