Sidney McFarland Bagley

Sidney was born Sidney McFarland in Santa Barbara on March 3, 1933. She loved California and was proud of her family's commitment to the town with the success of the Santa Barbara Savings and Loan chaired by the grandfather who was her namesake. After graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Sidney began teaching elementary school in San Francisco. It was during this time that an unexpected and serendipitous meeting with a young naval officer named Worth Bagley led to 60 years of marriage.

Sidney had lived in La Jolla since 1968 with many years away during Worth’s postings. As a proud navy wife of an Admiral who was Vice Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon and the Chief of the US Navy for Europe the de rigueur entertaining of Prime Ministers and royalty was embraced in the beautiful homes in Washington DC and London. As the intelligent and wise confidant of an Admiral at the pivotal crossroads of history in the Middle East and the Suez Canal War of Attrition, Sidney's contribution to naval history extended well beyond the spangle and sparkly evenings in Grosvenor Square or Foggy Bottom. As the naval wife, Sidney stood proud at the launching of the USS Bagley and represented the most dynamic generation of the historic family's contribution to the leadership of the US navy. Sidney was able to devote years of work to support the naval wives in the challenges of raising families with husbands at sea with great compassion based on her own experience as a wife of a young naval officer commanding ships for many years in the West Pacific.

After retirement the family left Washington to return to La Jolla where Sidney was to enjoy great activity as a docent at the Museum of Modern Art in La Jolla and as a regular fixture among the spirited tennis ladies at the beach and tennis club in addition to volunteering weekly to read to schoolchildren in San Diego. The weekly bird watching group outings in the beauty and diversity of southern California were greatly enjoyed.

Sidney and Worth traveled the world well into the later stages of their lives. She said her favorite country was Italy, particularly Lake Como. Her travels and Pacific Ocean view from her La Jolla home’s garden, coupled with her lifelong appreciation of art, inspired her to become an accomplished watercolor artist late in life, a hobby she continued into her 90s, leaving beautiful paintings for her family to treasure.

Sidney's striking garden at the beloved La Jolla house overlooking the sea remains as does the memory of the interests which knew no limits and a commitment to the beauty of life which will travel into infinity.