Peggy Martindale: A Life

When Peggy died, her sister Molly collected letters from family and friends, binding them together as a keepsake for Peggy’s daughter Laura. These letters have enabled Laura to know more about Peggy.

Peggy was an organizer, and she started early. At age 7, Molly tells us that Peggy, the youngest child in the family, formed her own club to be more like her older brother and sister who were in various clubs in high school and college. Turns out that Peggy’s club was a “meeting club”. Asked what her club did, Peggy answered, “all we do is meet!”

Peggy’s abilities at organizing and achieving stayed with her. She was the President of her senior class at Wells College and went on to earn an MBA in Marketing at Northeastern University in Boston. Peggy’s first job after grad school was serving as a marketing coordinator for a company in Boston. Her mentor wrote that Peggy single handedly planned, organized, and set up trade show exhibits all on her own at a time when women weren’t yet taken seriously in professional positions – and did it quite well.

Several writers noted how Peggy loved staying in touch with people – always remembering people’s birthdays and graduations with a special note or card – one saying she was a fabulous correspondent.

Peggy enjoyed herself fully in a spontaneous sort of way – a high school friend wrote of the pair, “we weren’t brains, but we actually did quite well” and of their cheerleading squad, “we weren’t the greatest, but we had fun anyhow!” One of Peggy’s friends wrote that Peggy was a great person not because she did anything spectacular, but because of all the little things she did right.

Molly describes Peggy as the bridge among her family – everyone got along well with Peggy. Peggy put so much love into the family, an endeavor made natural by her sunny presence, great imagination, and good sense of humor. On their father’s 70th birthday, Peggy wanted Molly to surprise the family by joining them for the celebration, so the two of them arranged Molly’s trip from California to Valley Forge, hiding Molly in the car until the last moment of surprise. Their father was thrilled.

Peggy met her husband Chip at a mutual friend’s birthday party at Cornell, where Chip was studying for his Master’s. Peggy was still in college at Wells. When Peggy returned to Wells after their first date attending a Cornell football game together, she told her roommate that Chip was the man she was going to marry. And so he was.

When Peggy became ill, she was one of only 9 known adult cases of neuroblastoma, a disease typically found in young children. Peggy’s Mom wrote that Peggy faced her illness with dignity, grace, and courage, taking care of Laura, who was still a baby, for as long as she could.

Peggy’s brother Tom wrote that Peggy had a spontaneous laugh. Even when she was very sick she was able to manage a smile and a chuckle – such was the strength of her inner spirit. When Peggy died at age 31, Laura was just 18 months old. Molly tells us that Peggy’s biggest heartbreak and the worst devastation of her illness was losing Laura.

Tom wrote to Laura, “If you feel a sense of independence, self-assuredness, and devotion to your family, your Mother is undoubtedly with you to this day.”