Coming from a family of well-respected lawyers, Margaret Maie Wheltle felt it was only natural to follow in their footsteps. Her parents ensured that honesty and integrity were ingrained in her character, and taught her to have a strong work ethic. Their lessons paid off, as she was the only girl from her class to graduate from law school. Later on in her journey, she became the first woman in the school of theology to graduate from the seminary. Her professional designations include a Master of Sacred Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary and University, a JD from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Arts from Mount St. Agnes College. She completed postgraduate work at the Catholic University of America between 1967 and 1969 and at Loyola Evening College (now Loyola University Maryland) between 1960 and 1961, and became admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States in 1969.
Ms. Wheltle started her career as part of her family’s law firm, Harley Wheltle Victor & Rosser, where they did a great deal of estate work. After five years, however, she decided to go in a different direction. In 1964, she joined Mount St. Agnes College as a television production coordinator, the director of development, and the assistant to the president at Mount St. Agnes College, and in 1971, she joined the St. Agnes Roman Catholic Congregation, Inc., now the St. Agnes Catholic Church and St. William of York Catholic Church, as the coordinator of religious education. During this time, she also served as a lecturer at St. Martin’s Home for the Aged, and instructor and director of the Theology Department and the Business Law Department at the Harmony Hill School. Ms. Wheltle proceeded to obtain positions as a trustee, lecturer in theology, and chair of the Religion Department at Mount de Sales Academy. She retired in 1986.
Outside of her work, Ms. Wheltle was very active in her community. Some of her notable roles include member of the Speaker’s Bureau and of the West County Regional Council for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, member of the Jeanne Jugan Association through Little Sisters of the Poor, and the vice chair of Birthright of Maryland. Additionally, she was the liaison of the Board for Christian Formation, the president of the Corban Corporation, the president of the National Alumnae of Mount St. Agnes College, and the chairperson of the development committee and member of the school board at Resurrection-St. Paul School. Ms. Wheltle held numerous positions with St. Mark Parish over the years, including president and vice president of the Parish Council, and with St. William of York, including member of the National Catechism Directory Committee and the Total Parish Education Committee, instructor of adult education, and sodality prefect. She co-founded the St. Martin’s Home for Aged Ladies Auxiliary in 1973.
In recognition of her achievements, Ms. Wheltle was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from Mount de Sales Academy in 1982 and from the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1981. She was also honored with inclusion in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who in American Education, and Who’s Who in the East.