Margaret E. Sargente

Margaret E. Sargente (née Coyle), born September 16, 1931, a native Staten Islander was raised in the town of Great Kills, but spent most of her adult years as a resident of Port Richmond, passed away on January 26, 2026, at the age of 94.  She moved to Ridgewood, NJ six years ago to be closer to her family.  She was the daughter of James Coyle and Margaret Coyle (Klein).  She was known to everyone as Peggy.  She was formerly married to Alfred Joseph Sargente from 1957-1979.  She was a loving and devoted mother of four children, a grandmother of six and a great grandmother of one.  After graduating from Notre Dame College in Staten Island (an affiliate of Fordham University) with a bachelor's degree in 1943, she became a schoolteacher.  While raising her children, she worked part-time as a substitute teacher at PS21 in Staten Island before going full-time in the course of obtaining her Master’s degree in education, specializing in reading.  She retired in 1997, when she was 66, and soon thereafter bought a camper van to pursue her love of camping.

Peggy was an ardent lover of nature and enjoyed birding, hiking, camping, good nutrition and, of course, her family.  She actively engaged in and supported many causes relating to nature, in particular, Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, which was instrumental in protecting a large swath of what became the GreenBelt stretch of forest and trails in central Staten Island.

  Peggy also enjoyed walks in Clove Lakes Park, Staten Island, and hikes at Harriman and Ramapo mountains, often with her children.  As a young girl, she relished spending summers in Cape Cod with her family.  She was always interested in good health as well.  Her avid pursuit of good nutrition for herself and for her family always took a front seat.  Beginning in the 1960’s, she was a bit of a pioneer in this regard, cooking unique recipes that were highly nutritious.  They weren’t always the most kid-friendly, but they were super-healthy.  She and her family certainly benefited from her dietary pursuits.  After all she lived to 94.

After retiring from teaching, Peggy enjoyed traveling.  Along with her companion of 25 years, Hank Lucken of Teaneck, NJ, she ventured far and wide to Alaska, Chile, China and New Zealand and throughout Europe.  At home, they paddled in canoes on the Hudson River, Pine Barrens and other rivers, primarily in NJ, at times as members of various canoe clubs. They were long-time members of the Appalachian Mountain Club and attended many of their “August“ camps. They hiked and camped in the Adirondacks, Catskill Mountains and in many US National Parks, such as Mount Rainer, WA. They attended juggling conventions around the country where they practiced juggling, of course, and riding unicycles.

She was preceded in death by her siblings, Mary Muench (Coyle), John Kerrigan Coyle, James Coyle, and Constance Quanci (Coyle).  Peggy is survived by her sons, Alfred Jr. and Christopher Sargente, and daughters, Margaret (Peggy) Guzzetta (Sargente) and Linda Sargente, along with their spouses; six grandchildren and one great grandchild.

The Sargente Family will receive friends at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ on Friday, January 30 from 6:00-8:00 PM. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home Saturday, January 31st 10:30 AM.   In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Margaret's name to the Greenbelt Conservancy or the Appalachian Mountain Club.  Alternatively, to plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store at the Vander Plaat funeral home website.

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