Margaret A. "Peggy" Salisbury

Margaret A. Salisbury, 69, of Union, New Jersey, spread her wings peacefully on Thursday, May 23, 2019 and left this Earth after a long and courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer. Margaret was born to the late William H. Salisbury and Helen D. Van Horn Salisbury in Paterson, NJ and spent her formative years in Glen Rock, NJ. She is a graduate of both Centenary College and Montclair State University, where she studied Human Ecology and graduated with honors.

Peggy was a life member of the Girl Scouts of America, attaining the highest rank of First Class. In her first career as a clothing and textile professional working for the McCall Pattern Co. in NYC, she was instrumental in all areas of product design and development, and an active member of the Women’s Fashion Fabric Association.

In her 25+ year career with Union County government, she served first as Ombudsman, then County Spokesperson in the Office of Public Information, and finally as Marketing and Public Relations Director of Runnells Specialized Hospital. She received a National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award and a Healthcare Marketing and Planning Association Member Recognition Award (2013) during her long and impactful career. In 2018 the Union County Commission on the Status of Women, sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, honored Peggy with the Women of Excellence Award for Lifetime Achievement. She was recognized for her Leadership, Commitment, and Many Contributions to the Community.

As a life-long Democratic Party activist and campaigner, member and officer of the Roselle Park and Union Democratic Clubs, NJ Assembly Legislative Aide, and currently serving as a Democratic County Committee Member in District 21, she always advocated for the voice of the people. Her career is punctuated by the time and energy she put behind causes she believed in, and into the organizations that supported her beliefs.

She volunteered and served the community in various capacities, including as a Patient Educator with The Cancer Teaching Project @ Pathways at The Connection in Summit, NJ, a support, wellness, and education organization for women with breast and gynecological cancer. She also reviewed grant applications for Susan G. Komen—North Jersey, and was a member of Union County Senior Citizen Council, Future City, Inc., and the Holy Spirit 60+ Club among others.

Originally diagnosed in 2003 with breast cancer, she will live on as a “Forever Fighter” of metastatic breast cancer who vowed to live each day to the fullest. Her motto was “I may have cancer, but cancer does NOT have me!” and it never did. She was a founding member of the Pathways Team SOS NJ – Save our Sisters, a breast cancer survivor dragon boat paddling team now in their 11th year. She served as co-captain and Board member, receiving the team’s Wall of Honor Award in 2016.

Peggy was also passionate about fly-fishing and gardening—her tomatoes were the best! She loved to travel and could sew just about anything faster (and better) than you!

She was a very proud mother to her son, Michael D. Woliansky, CEO of No Evil Foods, and daughter, Rachel Leah Woliansky, a successful manager in the music industry and award-winning photographer. She is also survived by sisters Regina M. Seubert, Carolyn M. Ponturo and husband Paul Ponturo; nephew Douglas Seubert and nieces Megan Seubert, Ivy Ponturo Kennedy, and her husband Mark Kennedy; Michael’s partner Sadrah Schadel and grandchildren Elan Bairre Woliansky and Artemis Esther Schadel. She was predeceased by brother in-law Gary M. Seubert.

She will always be remembered as a fighter. Her voice, energy, and spirit will truly be missed by all who knew and loved her. She was a source of strength, inspiration, and always a bit of spunky humor to keep a smile on your face. She touched the lives of so many along her journey.

A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 10:15 AM at Holy Spirit Church, 971 Suburban Rd. Union, NJ followed by a celebration of Peggy’s life at Suburban Golf Club, 1730 Morris Ave. Union, NJ, 07083.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Peggy’s name to these organizations:

• Pathways Women’s Cancer Support: Lesley Andrews, Pathways Director, The Connection 79 Maple Street Summit, NJ 07901, https://operations.daxko.com/Features/OnlineGiving/DonationDetails.aspx?cid=5147

• Future City, Inc.: 1045 E Jersey St, Elizabeth, NJ 07201, http://futurecityinc.org/

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McCrackenFuneralHome.com for the Salisbury/Woliansky family.