Longtime Scripps professor, Pomona grad

After living 68 of her 91 years in Claremont, Margaret Siler Faust died August 17 from a heart attack.

She was born in Tientsin, China, where her parents were missionaries. Her first language was Chinese. The youngest of five children, her family returned to the US in 1928 when she was 2 years old. She grew up in Oak Park, Illinois.

Her mother earned a college degree, eventually becoming a physician at a time when very few women went to medical school. Her father was the first in his family to go to college, and was also a physician.

Mrs. Faust received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Pomona College in Claremont. She then went on to earn her PhD from Stanford University, where in 1950 she met and married William Langdon (“Don”) Faust, who was also pursuing a PhD.  The couple enjoyed spending summers at the Faust cabin at Shaver Lake, California, where they were among the first to water ski. They also enjoyed traveling, including spending a semester in Suzhou, China teaching at the Suzhou Railway Teachers College, where they made many lifelong friends. The couple had three daughters, Katie, Ann and Marion, and were married for 64 years, until Mr. Faust’s death in 2014.

She was a sewing enthusiast, knitter and craft maker, and especially enjoyed creating note cards, which she donated to the gift shop at Mt. San Antonio Gardens, where she lived for more than 20 years.

Mrs. Faust was a professor of psychology at Claremont’s Scripps College from 1958 until her 1991 retirement. During her Scripps career she also stepped in as dean of faculty for two years, although she preferred working directly with students. She returned to her role as professor as soon as a suitable replacement was found.

She is survived by daughters Katie Faust, Ann Bailey (Steve) and Marion Brockers (Conrad); grandchildren Allison (Fredrik), Keith and Ross Bailey and great-granddaughter Iselin Haug.