Margaret Reynolds

Margaret Bambach Buck Reynolds, 101 formerly of New York, NY, passed away on March 23, 2020 in Key Largo, Florida. Born July 1, 1918 in Brooklyn, NY, she is predeceased by her parents, Edward and Isabelle (Rivers) Bambach of Staten Island, NY, and her late husband of 50 years, William L. Reynolds of Hutchinson, KS.

Peggy was first married to Orlando J. Buck who was killed when his transport aircraft crashed into Mount Deception, a shoulder of Mount McKinley in Alaska in 1944. Her in-laws, Congressman Ellsworth Buck (Staten Island-R) and wife, Constance (Tyler) adopted Peggy, making her a permanent member if their family to eventually include new husband, Bill Reynolds and granddaughter, Constance.

Married to Bill in Paris 1948, they began their marriage in Washington DC and Los Angeles, CA before moving to Zurich, Switzerland where she learned to ice skate, speak German and volunteered in the American Women’s Club Library. That three-year stint was followed by fifteen years in London, England where she volunteered her artistic talents at the Tate Gallery, continued painting under the tutelage of John Peaty, and become an enthusiast of reproducing brass rubbings to the U.S in 1980, and pied-a-terre in Manhattan, NY.

Peggy was a talented oil portraitist, and avid reader and accomplished needle-pointer. She joined her husband, Bill, in his operation of breeding thoroughbred racehorses begun in the English Cotswold’s and continued in the states. During the 90’s she and Bill served together on the Wagner Colleges Board of Trustees, education being a deeply held and shared commitment. Peggy was a dedicated philanthropist volunteering in the Red Cross, contributing to the construction of Ocean Reef Club’s Medical Center and Cultural Center. She was also responsible for renovating Reynolds House, the Office of Institutional Advancement at Wagner College, her alma mater (1940), as well as the installation of a charming brick walkway around the campus.

Survivors include her daughter, Constance (Kurt) Bierkan of Evergreen CO; granddaughters, Lisa Welker of Duxbury, MA and Laura (Nikolas) smith of Los Angeles, CA; great grandsons Lincoln (11) and Morgan Radzevich (7); an great granddaughters Amalia (7) and Ava Smith (5); as well as Peter Haank, her devoted care giver and companion of eleven years.

A private memorial service and burial will be held in Wisconsin as a date yet to be determine. Memorial donations may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517