Margaret “Peggy” Bardarson passed away suddenly Friday, July 29, 2011 at her home on Whidbey Island.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Baird M. Bardarson, with whom she raised a family of five daughters at their home in Renton.

A Pacific Northwest native, Peggy was born July 4, 1929, the daughter of Grace and Cecil F. Bullock and, along with her younger sister Carol, grew up in North Seattle attending Ravenna Elementary School and Roosevelt High School. She asked for a violin when she was 4 years old but wasn’t allowed to take lessons until later; in the meantime she played on a wooden spoon.

Peggy was a gifted musician with a passion for music that led her to many rewarding collaborations with other fine musicians throughout her life. In 1953, Peggy graduated from the University of Washington in violin performance where she had studied with Emanuel Zetlin.

Peggy was a member of Mu Phi Epsilon and resident of Wesley House during her studies at the U.W. where she met and married Baird Bardarson.

Peggy and Baird moved to Renton to build Baird’s medical career and raise their family.

Although a busy mother, she continued playing music with Seattle groups such as the Thalia Orchestra and the Northwest Chamber Orchestra. Peggy served for 19 years as the concertmaster of the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra.

With her sister, cellist Carol Graef, and pianist, Nola Allen, she founded the Chaminade Trio which performed regularly in Seattle and Spokane.

At the age of 80, she performed Ralph Vaughn Williams’ “Lark Ascending” as featured soloist with Whidbey Island’s Saratoga Chamber Orchestra with whom she played as associate concertmaster until her death.

Peggy was a member of the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle and served as a board member, concert manager and president.

In other areas of her life, Peggy supported many activist causes, co-founding the Renton Chapter of the National Organization for Women in the 1960s and in her retirement years was active in anti-war protests and social justice groups on Whidbey Island.

Peggy and Baird retired to Whidbey in 1994 and joined the Unitarian Universalist Congregation. They became active leaders and committee persons participating in the planning and building of the new meeting house.

Peggy loved the history and the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest and spent her childhood summers at Brighton Beach on Whidbey Island. Her Fourth of July birthday was occasion for an annual salmon bake celebration with family and friends at her and Baird’s summer cabin on Holmes Harbor.

Avid sailors, Peggy and Baird cruised the waters of Desolation Sound and points north to the Queen Charlotte Islands aboard their beloved sailboat Bright Star every summer for 30 years, retiring only one year ago.

Peggy is survived by her five daughters: Siri, Karin, Berit, Lisa (husband Jon Reichlin) of Philadelphia, Pa. and Linnea (husband Joel Wolfe) of Boston, Mass.; grandchildren Seth Sobottka, Lily Reichlin, Reuven and Jonah Wolfe; her sister, Carol (husband Doug Graef) of Spokane; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Peggy’s life will be held 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island, 20103 State Highway 525, Freeland.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle (www.lmc.org).