Margaret Crosby, beloved family matriarch
Margaret “Peggy” Crosby (nee Griffith), 95, passed away peacefully in her home in Frankford, Thursday, July 17, 2025, surrounded by her loving children, Frances Lohmeyer, Aline Hornbeck, Marie Dolan and Rudolph C. Lohmeyer III.
She leaves behind nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Her eldest granddaughter predeceases her. Numerous nieces and nephews, and countless friends all mourn the loss of their beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt. Peggy will be missed greatly by all her family and friends who enjoyed listening to the wonderful stories of her fascinating life.
Born and raised in Pearl River, N.Y., to William and Marie Griffith, the youngest of six children, Dexter, Tom, Bill, twin brother Mark, and sister Aline, Countess of Romanones. She was a graduate of Alfred University, where she met her first husband, Rudolph C. Lohmeyer II. They married in 1951 and had four children. Having learned Spanish through time spent living with her sister in Spain and attending the University of Madrid, she later became an outstanding teacher of Spanish at Nanuet Middle School, Nanuet, N.Y., and left a lasting mark on her many students, helping them to remember Spanish phrases with her unique teaching style.
She is predeceased by her second husband of 24 years, Kenneth M. Crosby, a distinguished executive with Merrill Lynch who opened the firm’s first overseas office in Havana and later managed offices in Madrid, Paris, and Washington, D.C. They resided in D.C., where Mr. Crosby was a prominent figure in financial and consulting businesses, as well as having served on the board of the Kennedy Center. Peggy quickly became immensely popular among Washingtonians, accompanying Ken at diplomatic receptions, cultural events, and gala evenings across the city. At Ken’s passing, she decided to fulfill her childhood dream and purchased an old farmhouse in southern Delaware, which she renovated beautifully. Much of her adult life was spent devoted to her passion for interior décor and landscape design, transforming all her houses into splendid and welcoming homes. Her creativity was matched only by her elegant appearance, design sensibility, and outgoing personality; she was an inspiration to all who knew her.
A private memorial service will be held at the family home in Frankford, followed by an internment at Rock Creek Cemetery, Md., next to her beloved husband Ken.
Memorial donations in Peggy's name may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, New York, N.Y.
