Helen "Peggy" Margaret Kottmeier

Helen “Peggy” Margaret Kottmeier was born in Almonte, Ontario Canada on September 18, 1926, to parents Dr. Ivan and Editha James. Peggy grew up in Carlton Place and graduated from Ontario Ladies’ College. She served as a hospital dietitian at the end of World War II before meeting Frank Kottmeier while they were both on a double date but with other partners. They married in 1947. In the early years of their marriage, Peggy focused primarily on providing loving care to her five children born over a period of twelve years. The family lived in several locations in Ontario, Florida, Illinois, and California before eventually settling in San Carlos, California on Oakview Drive. When the children were older, she and Frank started their own manufacturer’s representative company, Kottmeier Associates. Peggy served as the office manager until she and Frank retired and moved to the coastal community of Santa Cruz.

Peggy and Frank loved to travel. The family took many camping trips across the Western states in their trusty old station wagon “Henrietta.”  When the children outgrew camping with their parents, Frank and Peggy ventured out to foreign lands including a round-the-world trip; Peggy even traveled solo to Malaysia to visit her Peace Corps Volunteer son. Their favorite travels were on board their beloved sailboat, Tevake. Frank and Peg became members of the Coyote Point Yacht Club and cruised with the club and sailed on their own in the San Francisco Bay waterways. They grew adventurous and did some ocean sailing, living  a few years on their boat. Upon returning to dry land—with ample ocean sailing experience and many a tale to tell—they continued sailing Tevake in the San Francisco Bay and Delta and remained active members of the Coyote Point Yacht Club. When they began to find sailing a bit too rigorous, they sold their boat and journeyed with their truck and camper trailer across the US and Canada. They took the trailer on several trips to Mexico with their beloved chocolate Lab Hershey along for the ride. After Frank passed away, Peggy moved to the Dominican Oaks Retirement Community and continued to travel including visits to her sister and brother-in-law in Canada. Later, Peggy found love again when she befriended a fellow resident at Dominican Oaks, Raymond Riddle. They devotedly spent time together every day, traveled on road trips and cruises, and were seldom apart until Ray passed away in November 2016.

Peggy had an interesting and active life, but who she was is more important than what she did. She was a caring and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and daughter and those in her family loved her dearly in return. Peggy enjoyed socializing and entertaining; she had a way with people that put them at ease and made them feel comfortable and welcome in her presence. Behind her warmth and gentle demeanor, she had a subtle but potent sense of humor that never failed to catch one by surprise. Peggy was well-liked by friends and well-loved by her family. As one of her granddaughters remarked, she was always a safe port in a storm.

Peggy is predeceased by her parents Ivan and Editha James, sister Dorothy Urie, brother-in-law the Hon. Justice John J. Urie, husband Frank, son Brian, and daughter-in-law Jane. She is survived by her children, Stephen (Suanne) Kottmeier, William (Regina) Kottmeier, Kathryn (Alfonso) Valdés, and John (Marcella) Kottmeier, and by daughter-in-law Sunny (Brian) Kottmeier. Three generations of grandchildren and great-grandchildren survive Peggy:  Abram Kottmeier and his daughter Gisela; Jessica (Garrick) Tatsuda-Merrell and their children Chance, Chance’s son Oliver, Kodi, Chase, and Shiloh; Julia Kottmeier; Amanda Ramar (Ryan) Giordano and their children Grayson and Paxton; Dyan Valdes; Heather (Matt) Maurin and their children Mitchell and Ryland; Sarah Kottmeier and her daughter Kaia; Geoffrey (Stephanie) Kottmeier and their daughter Emma; Lindsay Ramar (Mick) Costigan and their children Oscar and Summer; Benjamin Kottmeier; Kelly (Bari) Kottmeier and their children Cooper and Quinn;  and Casey Kottmeier. In all, Peggy had five children, twelve grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson. And yes, she had more than enough love for every one of them.

Peggy passed away peacefully on May 29, 2025, with her children by her side. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in memory of Helen Kottmeier https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/join-give/ways-to-give/honor-a-loved-one. In keeping with her love of oceans and sailing the seas, Peggy was a proud charter member of the Aquarium.