On Saturday, August 25, 2018, the Webb Community gathered on campus to celebrate and remember a special member of the Webb Family, First Lady, Peggy Sylvia Michel who passed away suddenly on July 22.
The celebration included beautiful reflections on Peggy’s life by many who knew and loved her including her husband, President R. Keith Michel; son, Dr. Joshua Michel; Webb’s Chairman of the Board, Bruce S. Rosenblatt; Vice President of the Webb Alumni Association, Victoria Dlugokecki ’88; Pastor David H. Collins ’73, Dean Matthew Werner, and Webb students Ashley Dias ’19, Andrew Pidduck ’19, Jonathan Wang ’20, and Kevin Lu ’21. Each speaker shared stories of Peggy’s kindness, warmth, generosity, and love for Webb.
In memory of Peggy and her love of gardening, she was a key caretaker of Webb’s Student Garden, the newly instituted Peggy Michel Memorial Fund will support the naming of the Peggy Michel Garden overlooking Webb’s future academic center and the Long Island Sound, as well as the Peggy Michel Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Contributions in Peggy’s memory can be made to Webb Institute.
Obituary:
Peggy Sylvia Michel died on July 22, 2018, at the age of 64. An experienced scuba diving enthusiast, Peggy died from cardiac arrest following a shallow dive in the Cayman Islands.
Peggy was born in Paris, France, and immigrated to the U.S. at an early age. She attended the Grace Downs School in Glen Cove, NY, at which time she met her future husband, Keith. Peggy began her professional life working in customer service at Pan American Airways in Manhattan and enjoyed traveling the world. Upon the birth of her son Joshua, she was a stay-at-home mom for several years, after which she studied to become a pastry chef and co-founded a wedding cake business in the San Francisco Bay Area. This was followed by a twenty-one-year career working in various administrative roles at the University of California Office of the President in Oakland, California.
In 2013, when her husband was appointed President of Webb Institute, the nation’s premier college of naval architecture and marine engineering, Peggy readily transitioned into the role of “First Lady” at the college. At Webb, she quickly gained a reputation as a gracious host, mentor, and confidant to students, staff, alumni, and friends. Peggy was known for her engaging smile, warmth, and collegial nature. She had a passion for gardening, cooking, knitting, and quilting. Most of all, she enjoyed offering a kind word and helping hand to those in need.
Peggy is survived by her husband of 43 years, Keith, son Josh and his wife Beth, her sister Isabelle McVickar, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins whom she loved very much.
