New College Celebration of Life Service for Professor Margaret “Peggy” Bates Scheduled for Saturday, November 7

New College of Florida officials and the family of late Professor Emerita of Political Science Margaret L. “Peggy” Bates have announced the date and time for a celebration of life service honoring Dr. Bates.  The event will take place on Saturday, November 7, at 2 pm at the Mildred Sainer Pavilion (5313 Bay Shore Road)  on New College’s Caples campus.  The general public is invited to attend.

Noted as a champion of students, Professor Bates served as a professor of political science from 1971-1995 and as the College’s interim provost from 1989-1992.  Following her retirement from full-time teaching in 1995, she was named a professor emerita of political science in 1996.  She passed away on September 17, 2009, from complications related to an infection of her heart.  She was 85 years old.

Speakers for the celebration of life service are scheduled to include New College President Gordon E. Michalson, Jr., United States Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart, family members of Professor Bates and representatives from several of the community organizations in which she belonged.

Professor Bates’ family has requested that friends, neighbors, colleagues, students and others who knew Peggy submit memories, stories, and anecdotes about her to [email protected].  The College and Bates’ family plan to incorporate these shared memories into the memorial service on November 7.

For more information, please contact the New College Office of Public Affairs at (941) 487-4150 or email [email protected].