Marjorie Ayars "Peggy" Laidman

Marjorie "Peggy" Ayars Laidman of Cazenovia NY died peacefully on October 13, 2025. She was 90 years old. Peggy was born in Cambridge, MA but grew up in Syracuse, NY while spending summers at her beloved Sailing Hi on Skaneateles Lake. She attended Salem Hyde School before graduating from George School, a Quaker boarding school in Newtown, PA. Peggy then obtained her BA from Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA and her master's in special education from Syracuse University. Peggy's father owned Lightning #1, the first of the Lightning sailboats designed and built in Skaneateles, NY. She met her husband, Hume Laidman, thanks to her love of sailing as they were introduced by a mutual sailing friend and were married a few short months later. Peggy and Hume later kept Lightning #1 on Cazenovia Lake before selling it to a collector. The sailboat is currently owned by Mystic Seaport Museum and is on loan to the Skaneateles Creamery. Peggy had a deep love of skiing, having learned to ski at a young age. She taught Hume, her Florida-raised husband, to ski thereby creating what her children would come to know as a die-hard skiing family. Peggy and Hume were both members of the National Ski Patrol and both taught many others to become ski patrollers. Her children were all raised as ski racers, competing on the CNY ski circuits. Each of them went on to become involved in ski coaching across NY, ME, MA, NH and VT. Her love of skiing passed on to her grandchildren, some of whom have continued the family tradition of coaching and working at ski areas. After riding along with the part-time ambulance/funeral service. Peggy saw a need for a dedicated ambulance service in the area. She went on to be a founding member of CAVAC and spent many years in service to the organization, earning the honorary title of Lifetime Member. She started out as an EMT and crew member/driver, then moved on to dispatch. Her love for CAVAC was evident to all in the organization who knew her. Peggy always had a love for nursing and at the ripe old age of 44 she returned to school at SUNY Morrisville where she earned her associate degree and an RN in Nursing. She worked for many years as a nurse before retiring to follow Hume to England for his career. Upon their return to Cazenovia, Peggy got involved with Hospice of CNY serving on the board of directors from 1994-2002 and creating the Family Room in Cazenovia. Peggy was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Hume Laidman, and her brother, Bill Ayars. She is survived by her son David Laidman and his wife Chris, and her daughters Lisa Hodgkins and her husband Chip, and Barclay Rappeport and her husband Josh. She is also survived by grandchildren Devon, Bailey, Caroline (husband Kai), Chase, Lauren, Logan and Cooper. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, November 2, 2025, at the First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia, 27 Albany St., Cazenovia. A reception will follow at Meier's Creek Brewing Company, 33 Rippleton Road, Cazenovia. Contributions may be made in Peggy's memory to CAVAC, 106 Nelson St., Cazenovia, NY 13035 or to the Nottingham Borer Memory Life Community, 1301 Nottingham Road, Jamesville, NY 13078. The family wishes to thank the staff of the Nottingham's Borer Memory Life Community for their loving care of "Peggy Sue", our sassy mom, for the last few years. Condolences for the family may be left at www.michaelebrownfuneralservices.com.