Margaret (Peg) Oldroyd Hyde, 96, died on March 12 at Essex Meadows following a long battle with cancer. She was the wife of more than 50 years to the late Edwin Y. Hyde. She leaves her loving family and many friends who will miss her and are grateful to have known her. She lived a life filled with passion for people, for writing, for teaching, and for learning.

Peg was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 18, 1917, daughter of the late Gerald and Helen (Lerch) Oldroyd. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Arcadia University in Philadelphia, a master’s degree in teaching from Columbia University, and an honorary doctorate from Arcadia. 

Peg had a passion for science at an early age and was a pioneer for women in the field. She taught anatomy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, graduate level science courses at Temple University, and was head of the Science Department at the Shipley School in Philadelphia. She also wrote scripts for science-based television programs for what was then known as Educational Television, the forerunner to PBS.

Her greatest success came as the author of over 90 books published by a number of major publishing houses, including McGraw-Hill, Franklin Watts, and Lerner. In 1946, she co-authored a 6th grade science textbook called New Ideas in Science, which led to a 60-year career as an author. Her books won several awards, the first being the Thomas Alva Edison award for the best children’s science book of 1961. At age 85, she won an award with her co-author for her book targeted to adolescents, Sex 101. She was still writing at age 90 when illness forced her to retire.

Peg was not one to relax. She traveled extensively throughout the world, was a member of many volunteer groups and organizations dedicated to the written word, and spectated at countless swim meets, sailing regattas, and soccer and Little League games.  Peg started skiing at age 40 and playing golf at age 60.

She is survived by her son Bruce Hyde and his wife Barbara Goodrich of New London; three grandchildren, Emily Hyde and her husband Daniel Witsil of Quincy, Massachusetts, Molly Hyde and her partner Stephen LaChance of Baltimore, Maryland, and Benjamin Hyde of Brooklyn, New York; and her great-granddaughter, Maya Elizabeth Witsil, whose pictures and videos always made her smile. She was predeceased by her son Lawrence Hyde.

A private family service will be held at St. John’s Church in Essex. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to The Smile Train.