Margaret Mary Ford

Margaret Mary “Peggy” Ford On November 11, 2019, Margaret Mary “Peggy” Ford of Columbia, MD, wife, mother, teacher, sister, aunt, and friend, peacefully and surrounded by her loving family, passed away from complications of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease while in hospice care at the Stella Maris Nursing Center in Timonium, MD. She was 65 years old.

Peggy was born in Chicago (Evergreen Park), Illinois on July 14, 1954 to Francis J. Nolan and Sarah “Sally” M. (Maloney) Nolan. When the Nolan family moved from Chicago to the Washington, DC area to be near the seat of the federal government, they settled in Montgomery County, MD where Peggy was raised. Her father was a nuclear engineer with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and her mother was a teacher at Holy Redeemer School in Kensington, MD. Peggy graduated from Holy Redeemer School, Immaculata Preparatory High School in Washington, DC, and Wheeling College (later Wheeling Jesuit University) in Wheeling, West VA, where she earned a B.A. Degree in English in 1976. Following college, she attended the Washington Montessori Institute in Washington, DC and was awarded a teaching credential from the Association Montessori Internationale, the accrediting organization founded by Maria Montessori.

For 36 years, Peggy was a beloved and much sought-after teacher at the Norbeck Montessori Center in Rockville, MD. She taught hundreds of students over the years, including a number of children of former students, and was a respected role model and mentor for many aspiring early-childhood teachers. The students in Peggy’s mixed-age Montessori classroom ranged from 21⁄2 to 6 years old, and the patience, skill, and joy with which Peggy guided her diverse group of energetic young learners was truly awe-inspiring. Peggy also taught the school’s “Big K” kindergarten class, which prepared children getting ready to graduate to elementary school, and she founded and operated a successful summer program at the school.

Peggy was the beloved wife of J. Patrick Ford, a retired legislative attorney, policy analyst, and senior legal staff manager for the Maryland General Assembly. She was the devoted mother of Brendan Patrick Ford, a third grade teacher at the School of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore, and Kevin Michael Ford, a teacher and Chair of the English Department at Calvert Hall College High School, Baltimore, MD.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents Frank (1998) and Sally (2007) Nolan. In addition to Patrick Ford, her husband of 41 years, and her sons Brendan and Kevin Ford, Peggy is survived by three brothers: Patrick (Beth) Nolan of Salisbury, MD; James (Karen) Nolan of Annandale, VA; and Joseph (Sue) Nolan of Pittsburgh, PA. She is survived also by loving brothers- and sisters-in-law and many nieces, nephews, godchildren, former students, and lifelong friends— all of whom brought great joy to her very full life.

The Ford Family will receive friends at the Harry H. Witzke Family Funeral Home, 4112 Old Columbia Pike, Ellicott City, MD on Friday, Nov. 15, 7-9 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be offered on Saturday, Nov. 16, 10:00 a.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church, Clarksville, MD. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions recognizing Peggy’s love of children and her deep commitment to their education be made to Calvert Hall College High School, Baltimore, MD; the School of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Baltimore, MD; St. Louis Elementary School, Clarksville, MD; or the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary of the Woods, IN.

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