MAGGI PEYTON

PEYTON--Maggi.

Maggi Peyton, for more than 40 years a women's rights advocate and quintessential, indispensable behind-the- scenes New York City political aide, died at her Manhattan home on Wednesday, October 26, after a long illness. One of the closest of all campaign staffers who helped advance the political fortunes of the late Bella Abzug, Ms. Peyton was at her death Director of Arts & Culture for Gale A. Brewer--the fourth Borough President for whom she worked (Andrew Stein, C. Virginia Fields, Scott Stringer) during her extraordinary public service career. A onetime ballet dancer and founding member of the Manhattan Women's Political Caucus, Maggi worked in Abzug's 1976 U.S. Senate and 1977 NYC mayoral campaigns. Famously quiet, sophisticated, intensely loyal, unflappably calm, and universally adored, Maggi was also president of the tenants' association at Park West Village and founding board member and Treasurer of the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI), an organization dedicated to training and empowering middle school-to-college-age girls. Maggi was married to the late J. Randolph Peyton, a singer who performed at the New York City Opera and other venues. She is survived by her two sons, J. Randolph Peyton, Jr. and Sean Michael Peyton, along with Sean's wife, Cheryl, and two grandchildren, Avalon and Cassidy. Ms. Peyton was predeceased by her beloved daughter Allegra. A wake will be held Friday from 4-8pm at Frank Campbell's Funeral Home. Funeral and Burial will be private in Nashua, NH. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to BALI, 105 Duane St., 21-C, NY, NY 10007, to establish a scholarship fund in Maggi's honor.