On Sept. 7, Margaret Elizabeth “Peggy” Miller Logan, of Harpswell Neck, passed away peacefully at her home with her family by her side and a gentle breeze coming in off Widgeon Cove.
Peggy was predeceased by the love of her life, William T. Logan Jr., who passed away on June 30, 2008. They met when Peggy was assigned to the Medical Corps and Chelsea Naval Hospital, Boston, where “Bill” was recuperating from rheumatic fever. They were married May 11, 1946, in Burlington, Vermont.
Peggy believed in lifelong learning, taking adult education classes into her 90s. In a newspaper article about her 100th birthday, she said, “Just keep being curious.”
Known as “Nanny” to her family and friends, she is survived by her daughters, Alice Pacheco and her partner, Al Leblanc, of Salem, New Hampshire; and Heather Logan, of Harpswell; her son, Robert Miller Logan, of Harpswell; her grandchildren, William Fessenden and his wife, Jennifer Radel, of Sabattus; Amy Kelley and her partner, Tommy Kelley, of Danvers, Massachusetts; Michael Pacheco, of Billerica, Massachusetts; Ben Weiler and his wife, Amanda, of Kansas City, Kansas; Sarah Weiler, of Denver, Colorado; and Roan Logan, of Burlington, Vermont; and her great-grandchildren, Maddox Fessenden, of Sabattus; Cade Fessenden, of Sabattus; and Kate Weiler, of Kansas City, Kansas.
Born Dec. 5, 1924, to Robert and Margaret Miller in Burlington, Vermont, she spent her childhood years at the Miller homestead, 86 Brooks Ave., later moving to Locust Street. Sunday dinners included poetry recitations and watching her aunts dress for dances at Fort Ethan Allen.
It was at Adams School where she met her lifelong friends, the SubDubs. After graduating from Burlington High School, she was at the University of Vermont when World War II broke out. During a sorority meeting at Kappa Alpha Theta, Peggy made a major decision to enlist in the Navy because “blue was a better color on her.”
Her love of learning continued, from a Bachelor of Arts in international business from Boston University to classes in art, horticulture, history and politics. Her last course, taken online, was about Vikings.
Peggy and Bill lived an educator’s life. It began in Middleburgh, New York, then the Northeast Kingdom, back to her beloved Burlington. Next she moved to Maine as the education commissioner’s wife, then on to Boston when Bill became commissioner of Region 1. Upon retirement they came back to Harpswell, where she designed and oversaw the construction of her passive solar home.
No matter where Peggy went, she embraced her communities and friends. She was active in P.E.O.; Kappa Alpha Theta; the Burlington, Boston and Sebascodegan garden clubs; the Mingo Club; the League of Women Voters, hospital volunteering, and friends of the library. She gracefully hosted tea at the Blaine house and danced at an inaugural ball.
Peggy was loved by any and all dogs, and she loved them right back. From Tippie to Betsy, Casco, and Brace, she always had dogs. She also was known for her ability to call the cows home on Neils Point and to skunk many a player in cribbage. But most of all she loved her family, whether hers by blood or those who needed a place to call home, complete with a gourmet meal served on a table with candles and a flower centerpiece.
The family wishes to thank everyone at MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital and MaineHealth CHANS Home Health & Hospice for their care and compassion. In remembrance of Nanny, please consider a donation to the Cundy’s Harbor Library.
