Longtime Claremonter, UCLA grad, devoted Catholic, ardent sports fan

Margaret K. “Peggy” Brown died peacefully on July 25.

She was born December 15, 1931 in Chicago, the only child of James and Margaret Brown. She spent her younger years in Chicago and San Antonio, Texas, before the family moved to Long Beach, California.

Peggy graduated from UCLA in 1953 and assumed a position with the Los Angeles County Probation Department in the child welfare section. She worked in that capacity until her retirement in 1982.

She moved to Claremont in 1972 after buying a small cottage in “old Claremont.” She was very involved at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, assisting the priests, teaching religious education, and hosting special events such as Seder meal demonstrations. She devoted many years to OLA, often saying, “I’m just a few blocks away, it’s easy to get to church.”

She was a great sports fan, and was especially fond of UCLA. She attended many basketball games at Pauley Pavilion in Westwood and was a longtime season ticket holder to all Bruin football games.

Her favorite magazine was Sports Illustrated. She subscribed from when it was first published in 1954 and continued right up until the time of her death. During her younger days her knowledge of sporting events and statistics could put many sports fans to shame.

Ms. Brown was an active member of many organizations, such as the Scripps Fine Arts Association, the Pomona College Rembrandt Club, and the Women’s Club of Claremont.

At OLA she was a longtime officer in the Italian Catholic Federation, as an Irish “Italian,” as well as the Catholic Daughters. She also found time to travel, taking trips to Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Japan.

Although she leaves no immediate family, her friends and coworkers will remember her fondly as a generous and outgoing person, a fixture at OLA who was always willing to help in any way needed.

A viewing and rosary will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday, August 19 at Todd Memorial Chapel, 325 N. Indian Hill Blvd., Claremont.

Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, August 20 at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 435 N. Berkeley Ave., Claremont. A private burial next to her parents will follow at All Souls Cemetery in Long Beach.