WORCESTER
Margaret (Peggy) Cooper Heald passed away Wednesday April 13, 2016 in Worcester, Massachusetts after a brief yet brave battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 83 years old.
She is survived by James N. Heald II her husband of 48 years, her daughter Margaret E. Heald, her son Richard A. Heald II and his wife Eileen O’Brien, and her two grandchildren Lily Heald and Daniel Heald. Her sister Mary B. (Polly) Wild predeceased her and was survived by her husband John Wild, her nephew Thomas Wild, and her nephew David Wild and his wife Angie and their children Charlie and Lauren.
Peggy was born in Babylon, New York in August of 1932. At an early age, she and her family moved to Delmar, New York where she attended the Albany Academy for Girls. Graduating from the high school in 1950, she went on to attend Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont. Favorite subjects included Art History and English, and she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954.
After graduation, she moved to Boston, Massachusetts where she secured her Real Estate Broker’s license and worked for RM Bradley for over a decade. She successfully negotiated real estate sales and transactions in Cambridge and Boston for rental and residential properties.
While in Boston, she was introduced to her husband through mutual friends. She was married at the St. James Episcopal Church in Skaneateles, New York in July of 1967 and relocated to Worcester that same year.
Throughout her many years in Worcester, she dedicated her time and energy to numerous organizations. Primary among those was The Bancroft School where she contributed countless hours during her many years volunteering. With her creativity and organizational talent, she worked tirelessly with a team on the annual Holiday Marketplace. This event was a multi-day fair that served as a fundraising event for the school. Her eye for design and love of artisan creations made for a dynamic event.
Her passion for architecture and appreciation for history drew her to the work of Preservation Worcester. She participated at all levels including fundraising efforts and event planning. She was so committed to learning more about the architectural history of the city that she immersed herself in coursework at Clark University. Also of note, she was the winner for the competition to create a new motto. Her winning submission was “Save the Best To Last.”
She was a passionate advocate and key participant in the Green Hill Park Coalition efforts to preserve valuable wetlands and park space in Worcester. Her successful fundraising and lobbying with other coalition leaders helped save vital parts of the park from development so future generations could enjoy the diverse recreational opportunities afforded by this 480 acre public space.
Peggy had an avid interest in athletics and competition. A multi-sport athlete, her interest included skiing, tennis and golf. She participated in numerous events including team tennis and golf club championships. She was a member of the Greendale YMCA, Tatnuck Country Club, Harbor Head Tennis Club, and The Woods Hole Golf Club. She was known for her competitive spirit and her compassionate sportsmanship. A winner of numerous doubles and mixed doubles tennis tournaments, she was gracious in both victory and defeat.
Peggy was a kind, considerate, and loving person. She made friends easily and approached life with an open heart and a curious mind. With a life long interest in travel, trips to England, France, China and Kenya were among her favorites. She will be remembered for her warm smile, her ready laugh and generous spirit. It can truly be said that she brightened every life she touched. She will be missed greatly by all her knew her.
A private family service will be held May 4th. Celebrations of her life are planned for both Worcester and West Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Gifts in Peggy Heald’s memory can be made to the Margaret C. Heald Memorial Fund at The Bancroft School 110 Shore Drive Worcester, MA 01605 and to the Capital Campaign at The West Falmouth Library P.O. Box 1209 West Falmouth, MA 02574.
Arrangements are under the care of Callahan, Fay & Caswell Funeral Home of Worcester, MA.
To view Peggy’s online tribute, to share a memory or offer condolences to the family, please visit www.callahanfay.com.