Margaret P. Carr

Carr

Margaret P. Carr "Peggy" (Age 87)

Peggy passed away peacefully on December 1, 2023 at her home community of Artis Potomac Senior Living with people who loved her nearby, including her devoted husband of 62 years, William P. Carr, Jr. (Bill).



Peggy will always be remembered as a good friend to many. She and Bill traveled to more than 30 countries within Europe, the Middle East, Turkey and India. They traveled on their own, "off tour" with small packs wearing friendliness, often walking from town to town or traveling by local bus into their 80's! They never had a negative encounter over the years of their humble travels. She and Bill also made many friends through their shared great love of Opera. In their home sometimes the house would vibrate with beautiful opera music.



Peggy cared deeply about Justice and Equality for all people; wanting everyone in our Country and the World to have the opportunity to live a good life, free of poverty and violence. She was especially concerned about refugees and migrants and she dedicatingly supported the work of the International Rescue Committee.



Peggy grew up in Ohio and loved spending time at her Grandparent's Greenhouse on Benore Rd, West of Toledo. The Ohio family had a multi-generational reverence for nature, gardening, exquisite home cooking and crafting. Peggy was valedictorian of her high school class. She went to Wellesley College and made many lifelong friends. She went on to get a Master's at University of California Berkeley in Political Science. She ended up in Washington, DC where she met her future husband Bill.



Peggy decided to carry out her political and worldly citizen activities from home while raising their children, Peter and Molly. She was a life time member of the League of Women Voters who advocate for Voting Rights in ALL Communities across the U.S. She volunteered for National Public Radio (NPR). She loved the in-depth, multi-perspective often investigative reporting of NPR.



Peggy's penultimate endeavor was her 32 years as a vital pro-bono person/asset at Ashoka, the world's largest association of social entrepreneurs/leaders, those inspired to bring new solutions to the world's most intractable problems. Joining Ashoka in 1987, Peggy helped establish a resource center for Ashoka Fellows, who now lead over 4000 innovative projects around the world. Along the way she made many life long friends, introducing them, along with her beloved husband Bill, to kayaking, knitting, world history, archeology, great reads, and adventurous travel. She was generous and kind to all and will always be remembered for her candidness and genuine interest in the lives of her Ashoka family. According to Ashoka's founder and CEO, Bill Drayton, "Peggy Carr was an extraordinary moving force that helped Ashoka grow from its earliest, tiny, infant days. She created a system of services that helped thousands of the world's leading social entrepreneurs in countless but highly systematized and effective ways. She was also someone who helped define Ashoka's culture, and, in so doing, providing all of us with a standard of colleagueship and friendship to hold as a model."



Peggy was cared for in these past two years by a family team which included her son Peter Carr and his wife Susan Carr and Peggy's daughter Molly Carr and Molly's husband Daniel Thornton (Mac) and Peggy's very loving and devoted husband Bill along with Peggy's sweet kitty Alex. During these two years there were beautiful visits with old friends and all four grandchildren (Kat, Antonia, Elena and Andre), and other special extended family (John Woodworth, Lisa Tomasi, Caren and Peter Sjostrom from Sweden, Carr Robertson and Debbie Soldwish) and many precious moments with very kind and compassionate caregivers from Artis Potomac and Always Best Care Home Care Agency in Rockville.



Donations may be made in Peggy's honor to either the International Rescue Committee or Ashoka. No service planned at this time.



Online condolences may be expressed at

www.PumphreyFuneralHome.com