From that point on, Peggy and her husband David M. Darrin continued to visit the lake, first as campers, then as homeowners. They raised three sons–David, Timothy, and Drake–all of whom continued their parents’ love of Lake George.

As an alum of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), David (’40) and Peggy established several endowments to its research center on Lake George, known now as the Margaret A. & David M. Darrin ’40 Fresh Water Institute (DFWI).

After David’s death, Peggy continued to support research and conservation on Lake George.

In 2005, Peggy donated a 1.9-acre property in the Town Hague to the LGLC. She had purchased the property in the mid-1980’s after the former By-Water Cabins that resided on the property closed. The LGLC named the property Peggy’s Point in her honor during a ceremony in 2011.

Her foresight to purchase the property protected the land from potential waterfront development, and the property is now a beloved park in the Town of Hague.

With help from the Darrin family and others, the LGLC has undertaken significant shoreline and stream restoration work at Peggy’s Point to reduce erosion and ensure its long-term sustainability.

Peggy and her son David were awarded the LGLC’s 2005 Henry M. Rowan Conservation Award in recognition of their family legacy of caring for the lands and waters of Lake George.

David served on the LGLC board of directors from 1993-2008, including three years as president, and continues to serve on the LGLC’s advisory board. His daughter, Hannah, is an outdoor educator and attributes her love of the outdoors to her childhood adventures around Lake George. Hannah earned her master’s from Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, double-specializing in ecosystem conservation and equity in the environment. Hannah currently serves on the board of The Nature Conservancy’s Adirondack Chapter.

The Darrin family’s love of Lake George was shaped by Peggy’s leading hand and heart, and that love will be seen and felt for generations to come thanks to her philanthropy and passion for conservation.

About Us