Peg O'Neill Kimball

Kimball, Frances "Peg" O'Neill

Long time Ithaca resident Peg O'Neill Kimball passed away at the age of 97 on November 19, 2012 at Bridges Cornell Heights where she spent the last two years of her life under the incredibly devoted and loving care of their staff. She is survived by her son, Michael Kimball; daughter-in-law, Christine Carroll Kimball; grandchildren, Hilary, Justin, and Micaela Kimball and lifelong surrogate daughter, Betsy Crossmore Loring. She was predeceased by her husband Harold "Bus" Kimball. Peg was born in Trumansburg, NY, the only daughter of Frank and Myrtie O'Neill. A 1934 graduate of Ithaca High School, Peg married Bus Kimball in 1939, and later bore her only child, Michael. Despite being warned in the late 30s and early 40s that she wouldn't be hired in the local real estate world as a woman, Peg always knew she wanted to sell real estate. She grew up watching her parents buy and sell homes to survive The Great Depression. Peg received her real estate broker's license in 1948. She promptly opened her own business, Peg O'Neill Kimball Real Estate. Two years later, she was accepted as the first female member of the Ithaca Realtors Association. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Peg worked hard selling homes and guiding the design and construction of several large developments in the Northeast area of Ithaca. Among many projects, Peg worked on behalf of St. Catherine of Siena Church, and was able to secure land for its construction, and became one of the Founding Members of St. Catherine of Siena Parish. Peg was honored by the Ithaca Journal and Syracuse Post-Standard for her efforts as a pioneer woman in the real estate world. In 1957, she received the prestigious New York Times award for the best classified advertising by a New York State real estate broker, the award being presented by NY Governor Nelson Rockefeller. She was the recipient of the same award in 1958. In the 1960s, Peg's business model changed, and expanded to real estate development with her son Michael and business partners Peter Sarkus, Lars Kallstrom, and Hunt Bradley, partners who along with Kimball Real Estate staff, became among the best of her friendships. In 1991, she received the Realtor Emeritus award from the National Association of Realtors, commemorating 50 years of association with the Ithaca Board of Realtors, a rare and prestigious award. The association also made her a lifetime member in New York State. In addition to selling houses, Peg loved Cayuga Lake, gardening, politics, family pets, her church, and especially spending time with her grandchildren. Peg's love of people and ability to connect nurtured her business life, personal life, and sense of fulfillment. She will be remembered for her strong work ethic, sense of style, tell it like it is opinions, devotion to her business, friendships, church and family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 22, 2012 at 11 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Ithaca, NY. Calling hours will precede Mass from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow Mass at the Parish Center. In lieu of flowers, tax deductible contributions may be made to El Portal de Belen Foundation, a tax deductible foundation committed to serving the poorest of the poor children in the Dominican Republic. Donations should be mailed to St. Catherine of Siena Parish, 302 St. Catherine Circle, Ithaca, NY 14850. Arrangements are by the Bangs Funeral Home.