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MARGARET ATKINSON CROTTY (18 Jan 1922 - 25 Sept 2006) Margaret Atkinson Crotty, 84, died peacefully Sept. 25, 2006, at the St. Francis Nursing Center. She was born Jan. 18, 1922 in Hampton and lived all her life in Newport News. Mrs. Crotty was a registered nurse who served in the U.S. Army during WWII. She was attached to the 99th General Hospital, Operating Room 3443, during action in Northern France and Germany. She was awarded two bronze stars. She was a nurse at Kecoughtan Veterans Hospital for 20 years, and then worked for many years in the offices of Dr. William Read, Dr. Patrick Laughlin and other internists, whose practice eventually became Peninsula Internal Medicine. Mrs. Crotty said that she wanted to be a nurse ever since she was a young child and had helped care for her invalid grandmother. She achieved that goal. Those that knew her will remember her as a nurse who cared for her patients skillfully, tirelessly and unselfishly. Mrs. Crotty is survived by a daughter, Margaret Priest of Machias, Maine; and a granddaughter, Clare Priest of Minneapolis, Minn. She is also survived by her brother, William Atkinson of Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico; and several nieces and nephews Mrs. Crotty was preceded in death by her mother, Lucille Atkinson, for whom she cared for many years; and by her brothers, Burt and Harry Atkinson. In addition, Mrs. Crotty also leaves her "other daughter," Pat Waddy, who was a constant source of affection and comfort. The family would like to thank the many people who helped Mrs. Crotty during her last years of declining health, particularly the compassionate staff at St. Francis Nursing Center and the wonderful residents and staff at The Hidenwood. The family is especially grateful to Dr. Patrick Laughlin who went above and beyond, both as her physician and as her friend. At her request, there will be no visiting hours or flowers. A graveside memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, at Peninsula Memorial Park with the Rev. Clarence Hilling officiating. Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home.  Published in the Daily Press on Monday, October 2, 2006.

    From Linda Lane Lane ('64) of VA - 10/23/09:

...The striking cord was your mention of Peggy Crotty, RN the charge nurse for the office of Dr. William Read, Dr. Patrick Laughlin and Dr. Jeffrey Gluckman.  Peggy was a nurse's nurse.  She would call the ER at RRMC with a  patient they were sending to the hospital for possible admission.  I would call her if we had one of their patients in the ER. In most cases, their doctors came to the ER to see their own patient or someone from their group.  Not necessarily unique at that time as the ER was staffed by Interns and Residents and a full  on-call list of specialist.  My father, Irving P. Lane, came home from work one day after having his yearly radiation physical in the shipyard.  He was carrying an EKG and advised to see his doctor.  Knowing Peggy Crotty, I decided my father needed an internist so I contacted her at the office.  Dr. Read had been raised in the North End of the city and was known to my father.  Peggy said, "Linda, you want your dad seeing someone that isn't the same age," so we got an appointment with Dr. Patrick Laughlin.  Peggy looked out for my dad at every appointment.  Dr. Laughlin is still a wonderful internist practicing part time in NN.  When he first came to the Peninsula, he was associated with the astronauts at Langley. Their medical practice was highly regarded by many on the Peninsula.  I believe the credit belonged to Peggy Crotty, RN for her management and leadership skills in the office.  She was a dear friend.

     From Me ('65) of IL - 10/23/09:

   Thank you, Linda-Linda!  I'll share with you my favorite memory of Peggy.  It happened in the early summer of 1957; I was not yet ten years old.  My hair was the longest it ever was as a child, just touching my shoulders (later that summer I would get a duck tail!).  I had recently watched some old movie from the forties on television, and the star was wearing her hair swept back from the right side of her head all the way to the back of her left ear, and then pinned, allowing it to cascade in lovely waves. What could I do?  I had to try it myself.  Well, it looked great, it really did!  Of course I myself looked ridiculous, because I was only nine years old, but, hey. 

   Just at that moment, Mama said it was time to go pick up       Daddy (the late Robert Buckley - John Marshall HS - '25) from Kecoughtan.  YIKES!  I had forgotten all about that, as we didn't usually have the car!  There was no time to undo my "do", so I slid into the back seat and hoped no one would see me.  Wouldn't you know, when Daddy came out to the car, Peggy came with him.  I hoped she wouldn't notice how silly I looked, so I just smiled demurely and murmured, "Hi!"  But sweet Peggy said, "Oh, what have you done with your hair; it looks so pretty - let me see!"

   Now even I knew how ludicrous it must have appeared.  I mean I was only a child, and it was a very sophisticated hair style - totally inappropriate.  I kept waiting for her to burst into wild giggles and tell me how goofy I looked - but she didn't!  I thought she was just trying to be polite, and sooner or later a tiny smirk would surely appear on her face, but no!  She was just beaming that gorgeous smile of hers, and I realized she was being totally sincere!  She probably remembered that hair style with some degree of nostalgia, and hadn't seen it for a while, as it certainly wasn't in vogue in 1957.  Whatever the reason, she just kept going on and on - and I loved her all the more.

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