Earlier this month, Southold lost one of its most dedicated citizens with the passing of Peggy Murphy at the age of 91. For those of us who had the privilege of working alongside her, Peggy’s presence will not soon be forgotten. She was a teacher for 29 years, and she carried that same no-nonsense, get-it-done approach into every corner of her community work. Someone once joked that with Peggy it was “her way or the wrong way,” and while there was truth in that, it was also exactly how she managed to accomplish so much.
I first came to know Peggy through C.A.S.T., which at the time was still called Community Action Southold Town. Peggy was already a board member, and later became president, while I served as her vice president in the early 2000s. She brought that same sharp focus to C.A.S.T. as she did to everything else: always keeping us moving, always reminding us that the work was about the kids and the families who needed us most.
Her energy did not stop there. Peggy was active in the Southold Historical Society — now the Southold Historical Museum — where she led many of the efforts that helped strengthen its programs, including the annual holiday craft fair that continues today at the Southold Town Recreation Center. She also poured her heart into the Southold Sunshine Society, an organization devoted to helping those in need with medical equipment, fruit plates and small gestures that brightened the lives of shut-ins and neighbors going through hard times.
Peggy’s home on Horton’s Lane became an unofficial headquarters for so many of these efforts. Meetings were often held around her dining room table, and I can still remember the tuna fish sandwiches she served as we worked through the details of whatever project or event was next on the horizon.
Perhaps closest to Peggy’s heart was the Summer Showcase Concert Series at Silversmith’s Corner. For more than two decades she organized those Wednesday night concerts — lining up musicians, securing sponsors, and printing posters and programs. She made sure the schedule included longtime community treasures like the North Fork Chorale and the historic Greenport Band, as well as more modern sounds like Gene Casey and the Lonesharks, who always try to fit one of these community concerts into their summer schedule. That little corner of Southold was special to her, and she was instrumental in its beautification. After she stepped back, I was proud to help secure grant funding to improve the sidewalks there, and the concerts continue with strong support from the town.
Peggy Murphy left her mark everywhere she served. She was strong-willed, and yes, there were the occasional dust-ups, but she was always driven by her deep love for the community — and especially for its children. Many of the organizations that remain part of Southold’s fabric do so because of her dedication and perseverance.
And for me personally, Peggy was one of my best friends. I spent many hours sitting on her porch, just chatting, shooting the breeze and talking through the challenges and opportunities facing our own community. Those conversations helped guide me on the projects and causes I cared about — many of which mirrored her own. Although it’s been a few years since Peggy was able to hold court on that porch, those talks remain among my fondest memories of her.
Southold is better today because of Peggy. That is why I will propose to the Town Board that a plaque be placed at Silversmith’s Corner in her honor — a lasting tribute at the place she loved most, for a woman who embodied the very spirit of community service.
Southold Town Clerk Denis Noncarrow is running for re-election this fall on the Republican ticket.