Margaret Rogers Ghiotto

• American

Margaret Rogers Ghiotto age 89 died Thurs, Feb 16, 2006 at her home in Brooksville. Weenie, as she was known to her family and her many friends, was born August 20, 1916. A life-long resident, she taught school at Hernando High School for several years after her graduation from Florida State University. After the death of their father, she and her sister, Mary Belle, continued to operate Rogers' Department Store. In a small section of that store, she began to create what eventually evolved into today's widely known Rogers' Christmas House and Village.

She received many forms of recognition for her personal and business contributions to the city of Brooksville. She was a member of the Board of Directors of Lykes Memorial Hospital and First National Bank. In 2003, she was named by the city as the "Great Brooksvillian of the Year".

Mrs Ghiotto was also Grand Marshall of the Brooksville Founder's Day Parade. She was honored by Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite in the Congressional Record as Hernando County Chamber of Commerce's "Citizen of the Year" and was American Business Women's Association "Business Associate of the Year." She enjoyed gardening and planted dogwood and azaleas throughout the town. Her legacy remains in the "Margaret Rogers Ghiotto Beautification Award," given each year to those who continue to beautify the city! - Derived from various obituaries