AMHERST, Margaret “Peggy” Ross Roberts died at age 94 on April 24th, 2022. Peggy was born in 1927 in Westwood California, daughter to Ruth Collison Ross and Gene Ross. Peggy was a world traveler, teacher, wife, mother, friend, and a human dynamo that lived life to the fullest. Peggy’s love of travel allowed her to experience all 50 United States, and 32 other Countries. Yet the pull of traveling couldn’t keep her away from Amherst, her home for almost 70 years. She dedicated much of her life to the town of Amherst, and in doing so left an indelible mark that will last for generations.

Peggy had to grow up quickly after her mother contracted polio in 1933 in the midst of the Great Depression. She would go by herself from her elementary school to the market with her handwritten list and then cook dinner. Her first job was working in her father’s photography studio. In 1939 the Ross family was featured in LIFE Magazine after completing their 14 month marathon adventure across the Country in a trailer. Peggy’s favorite story was when the Ross family reached Florida and Peggy put the family’s baby pet raccoon in a stroller and the President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, thinking this was a baby, parted the blankets and found a little raccoon peeking out. 

Peggy’s love of animals continued into adulthood. Throughout her life she had cats, a racoon, terriers, a variety of rodents, birds, turtles, an opossum, a large collection of reptiles, fish, a tarantula, and a skunk she and her sister Betsy gave to their brother Gene Jr. 

Peggy graduated from Mills College in 1949, and received her Masters degree in Botany from UCLA in 1951. It was there that she met her husband John Roberts while teaching a botany field class. When they moved to Amherst in 1952, Peggy went on to be a research assistant at Amherst College, doing early research on the DNA of salmonella. In the following years she was a lecturer and instructor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Mount Holyoke College. Peggy’s research on Clarkia, a flowering plant, is widely cited. 

When you look around Amherst, please think of Peggy Roberts. She loved living in the town of Amherst and devoted her life to improving it. Her work can be felt across the town from her 48 years on the Redevelopment Authority, over 30 years as Chairman. She helped change the footprint of downtown Amherst, from the Clark House, Ann Whalen Apartments, the Bangs’ Community Center, Boltwood Walk to the Parking Garage. One of her favorite projects was Kendrick Park.  

Peggy was on the parking commission from 1994 to 2000, the parking garage building committees from 1997 to 2001, the Town Meeting Coordinating Committee from 2005 to 2019, and she was a town meeting member from the mid-1960s until 2018 when town meeting ended. She was the ultimate consensus builder and was respected by her peers.

Peggy was an active member of the League of Women Voters for 66 years. It was there that she met many of her lifelong friends, and was in a group known as the “lunch bunch”, a group of close friends who met regularly for decades to discuss politics, current events, and life in general. Peggy and John built their 1955 mid century modern house in a new neighborhood full of young couples and children. She became close with her community of neighbors, and loved attending the yearly block parties.

Peggy always had time for her children and their friends. She was a 4-H leader of the Busy Bees, and she encouraged her daughter Judy to be creative, always participating in artistic activities with her. Peggy’s love for the outdoors was shared with her son David. They frequented Quabbin reservoir and many other bodies of water. She not only provided transportation, but took an active interest in his fishing, even staying up late to help him search for nightcrawlers. For Peggy, going that extra mile for her friends and family was normal. She would never take half measures, and always finished what she started. Judy often said her mother was a combination of a favorite aunt, sister, and best friend rolled into one. Peggy loved her grandchildren, and the family has dozens of videos of her carrying out a birthday cake and everyone singing happy birthday off key. She made every celebration feel special. 

Peggy is survived by her daughter Judy of Amherst, and son David of Sunderland. Their spouses David Leith and Lyn Roberts will miss her greatly. John Roberts, Peggy’s husband of 60 years, predeceased his wife, as well as her sister Betsy McCormick, and brother Gene Ross Jr. Peggy was so proud of her grandchildren Kyle and Aidan Leith, and Benjamin and Abigail Roberts. A memorial service is planned for this fall.