Parent, grandmother, community volunteer and advocate for the arts

Peggy Ann Carlson died August 27 at San Antonio Community Hospital in Upland at the age of 72 after a four-year fight against cancer.

“Well known in the community for her volunteerism, leadership, and advocacy for the arts, Peggy will be remembered by all for her sparkling wit, sense of humor, and charismatic leadership in the Claremont organizations she joined — Campus Women, The Rembrandt Club of Pomona College and Claremont, and the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art’s Governing Board,” her family shared.

Peggy joined Campus Women, originally the Faculty Wives Club of Pomona College, in 2006-2007 at the invitation of her best friend, Diana Hutzell, whose mother, Ellen Litney, served as the organization’s treasurer. “Founded in 1922, Campus Women opened to women in the broader community in 1997-98 as a fun and friendship organization — a perfect fit for fun-loving Peggy,” her family said. She took on the planning of the annual Campus Women open house celebration at Seaver House in 2011-12, continuing this task for six years serving as an officer and then president.

For more than 20 years, she served both Campus Women and the Rembrandt Club, which she also joined in 2006-07. “Rembrandt was a natural fit for go-getter Peggy — volunteering on committees, putting the ‘fun’ into the club’s famous bus trips including the Getty, Palm Springs Museum of Art, and the Autry Museum to name a few,” her family said. “Peggy and her ‘pub crew’ started the tradition of serving champagne and chocolates or wine and cheese on the trip home — to distract the bus riders from that infamous LA commuter traffic. A beloved past president serving from 2016-2019, Peggy, most recently has inspired all with her positivity and beautiful spirit in her battle with ovarian cancer, attending events and famous bus trips in between chemo and radiation therapies. Just last April, Peggy planned and hosted a ‘pre-Easter party’ for her medical team of doctors and their families at her sister Carol’s home in Norco — complete with egg hunt for the children — only one of many beautiful memories her friends and family have of Peggy’s focus on others throughout her life.”

Born September 6, 1952, in Fargo, North Dakota to Paul and June Carlson, she lived most of her life in Southern California, but spent childhood years in Grants Pass, Oregon. “Peggy was known for her passion for reading, movies, art, music, gardening and entertaining,” her family said. “A successful financial professional, Peggy maintained her professional career with being a dedicated parent, grandparent and cherished friend.”

She is survived by her life partner of more than 40 years, Roger Bennett Smith; sisters Carol Formal (husband David) and Beth Heck (husband David); daughter Ann Carlson; grandsons Zander and Juneaux; stepchildren, Deanna (Smith) Kennemer, David Smith, Carolyn (Smith) Bowe-McLeod and Katherine (Smith) Hage; and 15 surviving grandchildren and one who proceeded her in death.

“She will be deeply missed by her loving family and friends,” her family said.

In lieu flowers, donations may be made in her memory to City of Hope at cityofhope.org/giving/give-honor-or-memory.

The family is planning a celebration of life in October. Please email rembrandters@gmail.com for details.