Peggy H Kormondy

Peggy Kormondy passed away peacefully the evening of January 3, 2013, at age 84. She was a beloved teacher of hundreds in the public schools of Olympia, WA, Washington, DC, Oberlin, OH, and Ann Arbor, MI. She was particularly honored to teach President Jimmy Carter’s daughter Amy in the 6th grade, in Washington, DC, with Secret Service standing guard outside the classroom.

Peggy was an accomplished painter, winning many ribbons at local fairs. She traveled extensively, visiting every continent except Antarctica. She learned to ski at age 52 and skied into her late 70s, when a back injury slowed her down. She was a calligrapher and integral member of Nib and Inks. She was active in many other organizations, including the Red Hatters, AAUW, Delta Kappa Gamma, WEA, and WSTRA. She appreciated and supported music, theater, and dance. She loved to fish, tramp around in the woods, eat good food, nurture flowers and plants, and enjoy all the special people in her life.

She was born Peggy Virginia Hedrick in the small coal mining town of Crumpler, WV, the only child of Beatrice Ellen Keiser and Robert Basil Hedrick. Her love of education started when she began attending Crumpler School on the hill across the street, creek, and railroad tracks from her home. She won the West Virginia Golden Horseshoe Award for McDowell County, and went on to become a cheerleader and class valedictorian, graduating from Northfork High School in 1946. Peggy attended West Virginia Weslyan for one year, then transferred to Tusculum College in Tennessee, where she earned a B.A. in biology and chemistry. She married Edward Kormondy on graduation day in 1950. Peggy received her Master in Education and English from the University of Michigan and began her long teaching career.

Peggy is survived by her children Lynn, Eric (Janet), and Mark (Susan), grandchildren Michael (Hannah), Andrea, Laura (Adam), and Alisha, ex-husband Edward, and the family of her long time companion Al Allison, who preceded her in death three years ago, Mike, Paula, Keith (Lori), Tessa, Cherie, Iris, and Lily. The family is grateful to all the caregivers who helped Peggy through the last few years of her life.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 26th, 2:00 pm, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 2300 East End St, NW, Olympia, WA 98502, with a reception there following the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Peggy’s memory to either of the following: Olympia School District Education Foundation, 1113 Legion Way SE, Olympia, WA 98501, osdef.org; or the Kormondy-Hedrick Scholarship in the Life Sciences at Tusculum College, P.O. Box 5040, Greeneville, TN 37743.