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Peggy Ann Richards, 81, Mamaroneck Teacher

Peggy Ann Richards, a longtime teacher in Westchester, died on May 11 in Southbury, Mass., survived by her wife, Judith, who she shared 50 years with.

Peggy Richards

Peggy Richards

Photo Credit: Contributed

Richards was born May 29, 1935, in Easton, Penn., the daughter of Kathleen and Charles Richards. She attended Hood College and graduated from East Stroudsburg State College.

Richards taught in New Rochelle, Croton-Harmon, and Mamaroneck where she was hailed as a gifted and caring teacher who mentored both students and adults.

She was affiliated with the Sarah Lawrence College Art of Teaching program, Lincoln Center and Teacher’s College Columbia University’s Aesthetic Education Programs. 

She worked as a teacher trainer throughout the Westchester and Long Island school systems, as well as with the Humanistic Education Development Department, in Albany.

An avid environmentalist, she completed courses of instruction in ecology at the National Audubon Society Center and participated in the society’s environmental studies in Connecticut, Maine, and Wisconsin. These experiences became a major part of her classrooms.

At her retirement, Richards moved to Roxbury, settling into the home that she and Judith built in 1971. She became active in the Roxbury Democratic Committee, the Friends of the Roxbury Library, co-founding the Junior Friends of the Library, the Animal Welfare Society, Our Towns for Sar-e-Pol (Save the Children) and Kids Take the Stage for the New Milford School District.

Richards ran numerous programs for the Roxbury Senior Center and until shortly before her death happily served as greeter and waitress for the center’s “Soups On” lunch program. She loved music and art, enjoyed golf and swimming and was a huge Yankees fan.

Richards lovingly cared for her family and leaves them with an abundance of happy memories.

Besides her spouse, she leaves two brothers-in-law, Daniel Mason Kelly and his wife, Eileen, of Somerset, Mass., and Jeffrey Robert Kelly of The Villages, Fla.; her nephews, Jason (Vicente), Nathan (Cathy) and Damon (Vandana); her niece, Carrie Anne; her great-nephews and nieces, Daniel, Torin, Kieren, Caroline and Grace, and her goddaughter, Ann Wells.

Richards' numerous friends and colleagues, especially Chris, will remember her bright smile and kindness and how she was able to “impart wonder.” Richards' feline “boys,” Charlie and Jacob, already miss her.

Memorial services will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 10, at Christ Church Episcopal, 4 Wellers Bridge Rd., Roxbury, followed by a reception at Roxbury Town Hall. Burial will be private. Arrangements are by Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home.

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