Pueblo's Maggie Divelbiss remembered as 'heart and soul' of Sangre de Cristo Arts Center

A prominent figure in Pueblo's arts and entertainment scene is being remembered for the impact she had on the Steel City and the value she placed on bringing people together.

Margaret “Maggie” McGowan Divelbiss, former CEO of the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center and executive director of the Broadway Theatre League, died May 16 in Pueblo. 

Divelbiss, a Brooklyn native, was 92 years old. She moved to Pueblo when she was 5 and later graduated from Pueblo Catholic High School and University of Northern Colorado, where she participated in debate. 

Education was important to Divelbiss, who taught at Seton High School and attended nearly all of her children's and grandchildren’s college and high school graduations.

Divelbiss' family described her as a “force to be reckoned with” during her career, which included numerous accomplishments and consistent advocating for Pueblo. 

“Mag was a dynamo and worked hard,” said Cindy Uldrich, one of Divelbiss’ five children. “She probably raised the majority of the funds for the (Sangre de Cristo) Arts Center and Buell Children’s Museum. She made connections in New York City for the shows here. She worked tirelessly for the city of Pueblo.” 

Divelbiss had an unflinching ability to ask for donations and raised millions of dollars for her projects in Pueblo. She was an “expert” at raising money, according to a Denver Post article from 1986, which helped the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center benefit from gifts and additions that further enhanced its quality. 

Divelbiss started her nearly four-decade tenure at the center in 1973 in a directorial position before later being promoted to CEO. Chieftain articles in the years since documented her unwavering dedication to the center, which was a “point of community pride” when the economy went sour for a period in 1989, according to a Chieftain article at that time. Quoted by the Chieftain in that same article, Divelbiss said there’s "something humanizing about the arts.” 

Another Chieftain article called Divelbiss the “heart and soul” of the arts center. Jenny Cook, a former associate director for the center, called Divelbiss “one of the most remarkable and committed people” she knew and “one of the strongest leaders.” 

“She saw the value of bringing something really special to the community and building that and enhancing the culture in Pueblo,” Uldrich said. 

Divelbiss came to appreciate the culture outside of Pueblo, too, as an avid traveler. She would often travel with her kids and sought out art museums during those visits. 

Divelbiss also returned to New York many times and caught shows on Broadway. That artistry was something she wanted to replicate in Pueblo as executive director of the Broadway Theatre League. She frequently tapped into her New York ties to enhance live theater in Pueblo. 

“Maggie would say that she was not artistic herself, but she could certainly appreciate other people’s art,” Uldrich said. “She loved all art — paintings, theater, dancing.” 

To improve the center, Divelbiss cultivated and sought out relationships with other community members and leaders. She was a fixture at community events and became a “political force” in the area, according to her family. 

Divelbiss worked on campaigns for Colorado congressional and senatorial candidates and stressed the importance of voting to her children, Uldrich said. She received Christmas cards from notable politicians, including former presidents Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama and former vice president Al Gore. 

Throughout her career, Divelbiss earned several accolades: she was a recipient of the Mel Harmon Community Service Award for her dedication and service to Pueblo through the arts or other community-focused efforts and was named Pueblo Citizen of the Year in 1989. 

In 2008, Divelbiss received a Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Award, which honors “individuals making significant and unique contributions in the fields of arts and humanities,” among other areas, according to the foundation. 

Divelbiss also earned the Shrine of the Sun Award by the El Pomar Foundation for her “profound and lasting impact on the community.” She was a member of the International Women’s Foundation and was the first woman to serve on the board of directors for U.S. Bank, according to her obituary. 

Outside of her accomplishments and guidance as a mother, Divelbiss’ children say she’ll also be remembered as a “true Irish gem.”

Chieftain reporter Josue Perez can be reached at JHPerez@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @josuepwrites.