There are some people who leave a lasting mark—not just because of what they do, but because of who they are. Marcia Hodgson was one of those people.
I had the privilege of working with Marcia for nearly a decade. We first met in 2015, when we both joined a local publishing company— me as a designer, her as a writer for one of their annual publications.
Over time, we both became integral parts of the company, growing in our roles—Marcia eventually becoming Managing Editor, and I stepping into the Art Director position.
Publishing is a demanding industry. Deadlines came fast, late nights were common, and there was little room for error. We both knew the feeling of spotting a typo or a missing cutline after a magazine had gone to print—something most readers wouldn’t notice, but that would haunt us for days. We shared that perfectionist streak, always striving to get every detail just right, even when time was never on our side.
She was, in fact, the Comma Queen. We could be in the “critical edits only” phase—where every second counted, and we were fixing only the most urgent, high-stakes errors—and Marcia would still manage to slip in 15 tiny edits, all of them involving commas. Add one, remove one, move one slightly to the left—somehow, she always found them. And somehow, they always mattered to her.
Despite the high demands, Marcia loved the work, and she poured everything into it. Her dedication was unmatched, and she had an energy that made her a true force in the newsroom. But love alone doesn’t make a job sustainable.
By 2020, we had both reached a point where we needed a change. The COVID-19 pandemic had shifted everything, and the publishing industry, already fast-paced, became even more demanding. Marcia often felt out of the loop, frustrated by the new dynamics of remote work, and uncertain about what the future held.
In January 2021, I learned that NEFAR was looking for someone to lead their Communications Department. I jumped at the opportunity—it was my chance to step out of publishing and into a role where I could use all of my creative skills while taking on a new challenge. I applied, got the job, and on February 1, 2021, I started as NEFAR’s first-ever Creative Director.
Up until this point, NEFAR’s Communications Department had been a team of one. But NEFAR was no longer a small local association with just a few thousand members—it had grown significantly. Glenn, our CEO, recognized the need to expand the department to better serve a larger membership and meet evolving communication demands.
My expertise was in graphic design, video, photography, and social media marketing—the visual and creative side of communications. To complete the foundation for this newly expanded department, we needed a yin to my yang.
I needed someone who could write the words while I brought them to life visually—someone whose skill set complemented my own.
NEFAR needed a communications specialist—someone with a strong background in media relations, copywriting, and editorial work. Someone who could craft the right message and build relationships with the press.
It was around this same time that Marcia suffered a heart attack. Because of her daughter’s quick actions, she survived. After being taken to the hospital and evaluated, doctors told her that stress had been a major contributing factor. It was a serious, life-threatening event—one that forced her to re-evaluate everything. She needed to find ways to lighten the load.
I called her soon after I had learned of her heart attack, just to check in and see how she was doing. And that’s when it clicked.
I told her about the position at NEFAR and encouraged her to apply. There was a pause—just long enough to know she was processing something big. Then, I heard it. That subtle shift in her voice, like she had just set down a weight she had been carrying for years. Excitement, relief, maybe even a little disbelief.
Even though she knew this was just an interview—that nothing was guaranteed—I could sense hope. It was like, for the first time in a long while, she saw a path forward that didn’t involve the relentless pressures of traditional publishing. I knew right then that this wasn’t just a job opportunity for Marcia—it was a new chapter, a way forward.
We had other applicants, but Marcia was in a league of her own. If this had been a debate, the other candidates would have been packing up before opening statements were finished. Her experience, her media savvy, her ability to tell a story—she had it all.
She officially joined NEFAR in March 2021, and for the first time in a long time, I saw Marcia with a renewed excitement and energy that hadn’t been there in years. She was ready to embrace this new chapter, and she gave it everything she had.
From day one at NEFAR, Marcia poured herself into the work. She tackled every assignment with the same dedication and meticulous attention to detail that had defined her entire career. Whether it was crafting a press release, editing an article, or preparing for the launch of NEFAR’s first Annual Magazine, she set a standard of excellence that never wavered.
At first, it was just the two of us in the Communications Department. With COVID still impacting office operations, much of the staff was remote, but Marcia thrived in the in-person environment. She valued face-to-face collaboration, and during that first year, our small team—including Glenn (CEO), Celeta (COO), Marcia, and myself—became incredibly close. It was just the type of environment she needed. She embraced the role wholeheartedly and didn’t look back.
Marcia always wanted to be at the center of the action, helping in any way she could. Her biggest strength—her eagerness to take on more—was also her biggest weakness. She struggled to say no, even when it was in her best interest. But despite the challenges, she never missed a deadline (at least, by her own definition!). She took pride in delivering on time, and if there was ever a way to get it done, she would find it.
In 2022, she suffered a devastating personal loss with the passing of her husband, followed by a series of home repairs that forced her to live out of a hotel for a month. Even after everything life threw at her that year, she pushed forward with resilience.
Then came 2024, a year filled with serious health challenges. She suffered multiple heart-related incidents, spent weeks in the hospital, and ultimately had to step back from full-time work. In November, she transitioned into the role of Senior Writer & Editor, allowing her to continue contributing while focusing on her health.
At first, she wasn’t sure how she felt about the change—it meant fewer hours and fewer responsibilities—but after thinking it over, she realized it might be for the best. For the first time, she admitted that maybe it was time to slow down—at least a little.
Memories & Impact
The Servant Heart
Marcia was someone who gave everything—her time, her energy, her expertise—to those around her. She had a heart for helping others, even when it meant putting herself second. That was just who she was.
There was a time when one of NEFAR’s networking councils was holding an event, and the Chair needed someone to pick up food from the store. This was not Marcia’s job—she was the liaison, not the errand runner. Any one of the committee members could have handled it. But when no one else had stepped up yet, Marcia did. She had plenty of her own work to do, deadlines waiting, and stories to write, but she still volunteered to do it. That’s how she operated—if she saw a need, she didn’t wait for someone else to handle it.
This wasn’t just a one-time thing—this was Marcia in a nutshell. She probably had a half-finished article open on her computer, a press release due by the end of the day, and a dozen emails waiting for a response. But when someone needed help, who do you think stepped up? Marcia. If you ever asked her if she had time for something, the answer was always a variation of “Absolutely, I can make that work.”
A Moment of Reassurance
Early on at NEFAR, I was navigating my new role, taking on responsibilities that were unfamiliar, and adjusting to the complexities of working in an association. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed—moments of self-doubt, of imposter syndrome, of wondering if I was really cut out for this.
I had experience to draw from, but this was new territory—and Marcia provided reassurance in that. Because we were both in a similar boat, we leaned on each other. There were times when I had to reassure her that she was doing a good job, too. We both had the kind of personalities where we’d ignore the 100 compliments and fixate on the one piece of criticism. We were eager to please, always trying to give, give, give—and the rare times when something didn’t go quite right, or when we thought someone might be disappointed, it stuck with us. Over time, those little doubts add up. But we were there for each other in those moments, reminding one another that we were on the right path.
I remember us going to CDI (Communications Directors Institute) in 2022, a three-day conference where communications professionals from Realtor associations across the country gather to share ideas. That year, the conference was held in New Orleans, right in the middle of summer—which, if you’ve never experienced it, is like stepping directly into a pot of boiling gumbo.
For three days, we sat through endless conference sessions, listening to other associations talk about their struggles and solutions. By the end, we were both exhausted—physically from the heat and mentally from the information overload.
On the way to the airport, we were just staring out the cab window, processing everything we had heard, when at the exact same time, we turned to each other and said, “I think we’re doing pretty good!”
And then we both just laughed.
It was one of those moments where you come in expecting to feel overwhelmed, but instead, you walk away realizing you’re ahead of the curve. We weren’t just keeping up—we were out in front. And for the first time, we both knew it.
Mastering Media Relations
If there was one area where Marcia truly excelled, it was media relations. She didn’t just send out press releases—she built relationships with the reporters and editors she worked with. To her, they weren’t just names on an email list—they were people.
Even if it was just on the surface, she made an effort to get to know them, and in turn, they got to know her. She wasn’t just a name in their inbox—she was a familiar voice, a trusted source.
With 30+ years in journalism, Marcia knew exactly what the media needed and how they wanted it. She didn’t just pitch stories; she did the hard work for them. Her press releases weren’t just well-written—they were ready to publish. Editors and reporters could copy and paste her content with minimal revisions, making it easier for them to say yes to covering NEFAR.
At one point, even people at NAR (National Association of Realtors) were asking her to share her strategies because NEFAR was getting consistent press coverage. The reason? While other PR teams blindly blasted emails, hoping something would stick, Marcia made sure every story was worth their time.
Her Love for Writing
Of course, as much as Marcia loved media relations, writing was her true passion. She loved words—sometimes too much. I always joked that brevity was not her strong suit. If you gave her a 600-word limit, she’d write 1,200—and then fight me every step of the way until we reached a truce at 900.
It was a battle of wills, like two world powers negotiating a peace treaty. If the Paris Accords had been about word count, they’d be called the Hodgson Compromise.
She wanted every detail to be perfect, every sentence to capture the full picture, every story to be comprehensive and compelling. If you asked her to write a quick note about the soup of the day, you’d get back a ten-page manuscript detailing the history of chowder, the emotional weight of a well-seasoned broth, and a subplot about a fisherman rediscovering his love for the sea.
That was Marcia. She didn’t just write—she told stories. And that’s why she was so great at what she did.
More Than Words
I wish I had the chance to tell Marcia all of this while she was still here. I wish I had been able to thank her for everything—the work, the dedication, the friendship. I wish I could apologize for any times I may have been short with her or frustrated.
Like an old married couple, when you work together long enough, you inevitably get on each other’s nerves from time to time. I know there were moments where we annoyed each other, but I hope she knew—I always thought she was great at what she did.
More than that, I was grateful she was the one on this journey with me at NEFAR. Having someone from a similar background, someone who understood the challenges we faced, made all the difference. And knowing I could count on her so reliably was something I never took for granted.
Maybe it’s no coincidence that our birthdays were only a day apart. Maybe that’s why we were so similar in so many ways.
If there’s one thing people should take away from who Marcia was, it’s how she treated people—how she put the needs of others first, sometimes to a fault. In a world where we are becoming increasingly divided, distant, and digital, she always tried to find that human connection.
She believed in building meaningful relationships through words, conversations, and face-to-face interactions. In a time when people are quick to ask, “What’s in it for me?”, Marcia was always the first to say, “How can I help?”
The last eight months were incredibly difficult for her, her family, and her colleagues. She started having serious health issues last summer, which led to multiple close calls and weeks in the hospital. And yet, all she could talk about was how she couldn’t wait to get back to work.
She kept saying that she had never missed a deadline before, and she wasn’t about to start now.
Her work clearly gave her fulfillment in life. There was no telling Marcia she couldn’t work—she was going to find something to do.
But I’m glad she agreed to take a step back upon returning to NEFAR last November and just focus on what she did best—writing. I think it gave her more time to spend with her daughters and to focus on herself.
Life isn’t all about work. Yes, some of us find fulfillment in what we do, but there is more to life than that.
I just hope she was able to find some balance in the last several months.
And for the record—she still never missed a deadline. We finished the 2025 NEFAR Magazine in the first week of February.
She was a former sports reporter, so I think she’d appreciate this analogy—she left the game batting 1,000.
The 2025 issue of NEFAR Magazine was her final contribution.
I just wish she had gotten to see it.
Marcia leaves big shoes to fill in terms of what she brought to the table. But she also leaves a blueprint for us to follow—to build on what she started, to continue the work she cared so deeply about.
And more importantly, she leaves behind a reminder of how we should treat one another.
To always be curious.
To ask questions.
To help when we can.
We are all the authors of our own story. NEFAR was her next great chapter. And though it ended too soon, she made sure every page mattered.
