In Memory: Margaret (Peggy) Hubbell Beebe, Age 95
Margaret (Peggy) Hubbell Beebe was born on Mother’s Day, May 9th in 1926 to Helen and Sherwood Hubbell. She died peacefully in her home at the Osborn in Rye, NY on February 10th, 2022. She was 95 years old.
Peggy and her sister, Martha, grew up in Garden City, NY where their Grandfather served as the first mayor. She loved to recount memories of her childhood with a band of cousins living next door, skating on Hubbell’s Pond in the winter, and traveling to Chazy, NY on Lake Champlain to escape the summer heat. After graduating from Pine Manor College in Massachusetts, she volunteered as a nurse during World War II and wrote constantly to the love of her life, John Eldridge Beebe, as he served as an Army officer in the Philippines. They married shortly after his safe return on September 7th, 1946 and later welcomed two children, Jack and Martha. Throughout their 70 years together they lived in Princeton, NJ (as John completed his degree); their shared hometown of Garden City, NY; Oyster Bay, NY; Hilton Head, SC; and returned each summer to their home in Lake Placid, NY where they were surrounded by friends, family, and the landscape they loved best.
Peggy was an avid gardener and could often be found with her hands in the earth. She brought life and color to neighbor’s gardens as well as her own and served on garden clubs and altar guilds in New York and South Carolina. She loved birds – especially the charm of hummingbirds that she believed followed her from her South Carolina garden to buzz around her porch feeders and window boxes in Lake Placid.
She was fond of all animals, but dogs were always her favorite. Even after her own loyal companions passed away she doted on her numerous neighbor dogs, granddogs, and great-granddogs. Her pockets were always filled with puppy biscuits in case she happened upon a four-legged friend during her frequent walks. Peggy was crafty, clever, witty, and sometimes wicked. She was a card shark, a painter, a restorer of old furniture, and an excellent seamstress.
Together with her beloved husband John, she traveled the world, played countless rounds of golf, and never missed a cocktail hour. She is no doubt enjoying some Canadian Club with him now. John predeceased her in 2016 followed by her son, Jack Beebe, in 2020. She is survived by her daughter Martha Knowles; son-in-law Kenneth Knowles; four grandchildren, William Knowles (Amy), Eliza Park (Doug), Laura LeClair (Frank), and Jake Beebe (Danielle); as well as seven great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Adirondack Foundation for “Keep Placid Pure”, PO Box 288, Lake Placid, NY 12946 or Christ’s Church, Rectory Street, Rye, NY 10580.
