North County Mourns Loss of Maggie Vandergon

By Camille DeVaul · Tue May 19 2026

The North County community is mourning the loss of one of its pillars. Margaret "Maggie" Rice Vandergon, a lifelong pioneer of the North County community, passed away peacefully on January 3 at the age of 98. Born June 19, 1927, in Paso Robles, Maggie's life was deeply rooted in the land, the people, and the traditions of the region she loved. Her legacy is one of service, leadership, and devotion to family and community.

Raised on a ranch in the Parkfield area east of San Miguel, Maggie was the daughter of Frank and Ella Adams. Her early years were shaped by resilience and determination. During the Great Depression, her family worked hard to make ends meet, and Maggie learned the value of perseverance at a young age. She often recalled riding her horse four miles each way to attend a one-room schoolhouse, beginning at just 6 years old.

After graduating from Paso Robles High School in 1945, Maggie pursued nursing through the United States Cadet Nurse Corps, studying in San Diego. She went on to specialize in surgical nursing, eventually returning home to work alongside Dr. Fred Ragsdale in Paso Robles. Even as she built a professional career, Maggie remained committed to raising her family, including her sons Greg Claassen, Tim Rohrer, and later Douglas Rice.

In 1965, Maggie moved to Atascadero, where her impact on the community would become transformative. Drawing inspiration from Paso Robles' Pioneer Day celebrations, she recognized a missing piece in Atascadero's civic life. That realization led her to found the Colony Days Parade in 1974 — an event that would grow into one of the city's most beloved traditions. As parade chair for 21 consecutive years, Maggie infused the celebration with creativity and joy.

Her commitment to Atascadero extended far beyond Colony Days. Maggie served on the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and later stepped in as its manager, helping guide the organization through a period of growth and change. She also chaired the Board of Directors for Twin Cities Hospital, served on the County Grand Jury, and dedicated 11 years to running the first aid tent at the Mid-State Fair. For two decades, she organized quarterly blood drives at the Elks Lodge.

Among her many ventures, Karen McNamara worked closely with Maggie and remembers her as a one of a kind, a strong and determined woman. "She made a huge impact on so many lives," McNamara shared. "Meetings with Maggie were always fun. Her humor was as dry as the martini waiting for her at home. She never held back her thoughts, and with that humor often made some very pointed comments ... we loved her ways of keeping the committee in line so as not to lose the traditions of such a special event."

A "Most Humorous" Colony Days Parade award was created in honor of Maggie — a reminder of the time she had a real elephant on skates in the parade. "When the Printery Foundation was started, Maggie stepped right up to offer her help," Karen added. "She immediately became a Founder and soon after joined the fundraising committee to work on a campaign to fund the project ... she believed the community badly needed the activities that will be offered at the Printery, and the importance of saving our first civic building."

Barbie Butz, another well-known figure in Atascadero, got her start in a lot of the community's traditions through Maggie. Their first venture together was Colony Days. "When I first went on the committee, I was so pleased to be working with Maggie," Butz shared. "Maggie was just a great organizer. I was so tickled to be with somebody who had started Colony Days." The two would continue to work on the Printery Foundation, the Colony Days committee, and then eventually graduated to announcing the parade together. "Maggie contributed so much to this community, from her involvement with the Elks, with the chamber, with the Colony Days. She really left a legacy with Atascadero," Butz said.

Maggie's service did not go unnoticed. She was honored as Citizen of the Year in both Atascadero and Paso Robles and received the Elks' Citizen of the Year award. Yet even with a lifetime of accomplishments, she continued to seek growth, returning to school in her sixties to complete the Institute for Organization Management at Stanford University, even graduating as valedictorian of her class.

Beyond her civic achievements, Maggie was known for her boundless energy, sharp wit, and generous spirit. She had a passion for collecting political buttons from around the world, a hobby that reflected both her curiosity and her appreciation for history. After marrying Jack Vandergon, she embraced travel, exploring the United States and Mexico by RV and later venturing across the globe.

Above all, Maggie cherished her family. She is survived by her son Douglas (Lisa) Rice, grandsons Ryan (Stacy) Claassen and Colton (McKenzie) Rice, and great-granddaughters Ella and Sage. Her love for them was evident in every aspect of her life, and they remained her greatest pride and joy.

Lastly, McNamara shared, "Losing Maggie is a big loss for Atascadero, and of course, her hometown, Paso Robles. She and her smile will be incredibly missed." Maggie's legacy will continue to be felt in every parade, every gathering, and every act of service inspired by her example.