REMEMBERING PEGGY LYONS

Peggy was an incredible person with a magnetic personality.  She was the ultimate

survivor, which made her passing from lung cancer on November 2000, about a week

after her birthday, so hard to take in…(Sister Kathie Talbot, July 2013)

…everyone loved Peggy. She had a way about her that always made you feel good.

She was a great sister to me and a wonderful aunt to my kids.  She was very creative

and outgoing, a go-getter, and a trustworthy friend.  (Sister Chris Chiaro, July 2013)

Peggy Lyons was the only woman of the 14-person Crew of 8 Cape Verdeans and 6 Americans that sailed Schooner Ernestina back from Mindelo, Cape Verde in the summer of 1982.  Born in Peekskill, NY and living in downtown New York City near South Street Seaport, Peggy was a licensed Captain, had her own 30-foot Sloop Repose, and absolutely loved sailing.  She was a dedicated volunteer in the 6-year campaign to repair, return, and repatriate Ernestina after being dismasted in her first voyage back to the U.S. in 1976.  She had her own graphics and design company, Jetsetters.

Peggy decided to move to St. Thomas in 1993, sailing down on her own boat with a friend.  The trip was not “without challenges”, and sister Kathie recalls that it “probably took about as long as the Ernestina took to sail from Cape Verde to Newport!”  She re-established her company, which became highly successful.  While in St. Thomas, she also met and fell in love with a musician, Ike, and they married.  She died aboard the Repose.

As an Ernestina volunteer, Peggy was cooperative, wonderful to work with, and leaves a unique Ernestina legacy.  Her creative stamp is all over the Ernestina/Effie M. Morrissey: Commemorative Edition (by Laura Pires Houston and Michael K. H. Platzer, 1982), and also on the 8 wooden panels retelling the story of the historic Schooner.  In the making of “Mystery Lady” the wonderful video produced by the late Tom Lopes documenting the 1982 transatlantic voyage, Peggy’s parents and sisters were interviewed by Alberto Pereira as they excitedly awaited the return of their daughter and sister. In New Bedford, she raised the U.S. flag after the Cape Verdean flag was brought down. In addition, Peggy maintained a full photo album and several taped cassettes of the 41-day trip.  These have been transferred to the Ernestina/Morrissey Archives at the Archives Library at UMA/Dartmouth.  We give thanks for Peggy’s life, friendship, and heart.

Laura Pires-Hester, Ph. D.

Chairperson, Schooner Ernestina Commission

July 2013

Commission Chair Laura Pires-Hester received Peggy's records of the voyage from her sister Kathie Talbot recently.