Margaret “Peggy” Muller Bjarno of Boyds, MD died February 22nd at the Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, surrounded by family. Daughter of New York architect Peter Paul Muller and artist and art professor Helen Bates Muller. She was born in Brooklyn, NY, October 9th, 1945 and grew up in Port Washington, Long Island, NY. She is survived by her twin sister Kathy Noble, her brother-in-law Allan Noble, nieces Lara Muller and Susanna Bindel, nephew Matthew Noble, his wife Barbara and their son Bradley, and husband of 22 years, Hans Bjarno.
Peggy graduated in 1963 from Paul D. Schreiber High School, in Port Washington, where she was concert master in its award winning high school orchestra all the years she was there. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Alfred University in 1967 and then a Masters degree in Art Education, also from Alfred University. While in Alfred, she fulfilled a long time dream and bought a horse, trail riding it around the fields and wooded hills of the area. She taught art in public schools in Hornell, NY, Brookfield, IL and Montgomery County, MD. During the years when she was teaching, she exhibited and sold her drawings at the Chicago Art Institute, the Elaine Benson Gallery in Bridgehampton, NY and several New York City galleries.
She moved from Illinois to Maryland in 1979 and began working as a graphic designer. She eventually became the owner of Sir Speedy Printing and Graphics in Rockville. She was a member and one time President of the Rockville Rotary, and a long time member of Assemblage, an art group.
Peggy was an avid boater, buying her first boat as a 50th birthday present to herself. She soon moved up to a larger boat and became highly skilled at boat handling, ultimately teaching workshops offering other women the knowledge and confidence to take the helm of their own boat. For a number of years she enjoyed skippering her boat as the “tender boat” for the historic Chesapeake Bay Racing log canoe ‘Flying Cloud’, towing the boat to races on various rivers of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and also standing by when the tippy boat capsized during races. In 2002, she and Hans bought a 43 foot trawler in Florida and began long distance cruising, up and down the Intracoastal Waterway from the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries to the Florida Keys, following the seasons. They eventually sold their Rockville home and moved on to their boat full time, and after several years they settled on New Bern, North Carolina as a good place to continue being “live-aboard boaters”. During their boating years, she was a member of the Coastguard Auxiliary.
In 2018 she moved to Boyds, Maryland. She suffered a major stroke in 2020 and was no longer able to get around on her own, but she continued to make new friends and keep up with old ones. She was highly creative and skilled in many aspects of art and writing. Everything she did she did well, and she had very high standards. Peggy was beloved by many, and she had loyal friends from every phase of her life.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 8th at 11:00AM at the Hilton Funeral Home, 22111 Beallsville Rd., Barnesville, MD 20838. Peggy was a great lover of animals, and for those who would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, we know she would wish for you to make a donation to your favorite animal charity.
Memorial Service
Saturday, March 8, 2025
11:00 AM
Hilton Funeral Home
22111 Beallsville Road
Barnesville, MD 20838
From: Maria
Dear Peggy is gone from this world and I am sure the goddesses have made a special place for her. She was a woman of substance and her contributions to this world will be remembered by those of us who were lucky enough to share time with her. It was a privilege to have her as a friend, and I hope it will be of some comfort to her loved ones to know how many of us held her dear. Whether dancing in The Bus, drinking Blue Martinis with the Babes, discussing current affairs or stressing over Nya's motion sickness contribution, Peggy was always genuine. I'll be looking for that dragonfly visit, Peggy.
From: Irene Melson
Peggy was always so warm and welcoming when we would have the opportunity to see her. It was a privilege to know her. She will be greatly missed. May you find comfort in your memories and love from your family and friends.
From: Sue Wrona Gall
Peggy and I met in 1970 when I was a first year teacher and she was. a talented pro. Everyone loved her, teachers as well as students. She always made time for friends while creating her magnificent drawings. She was the best art critic for my paintings. Our friendship continued when she moved back to the East Coast. She became an author and wrote wonderful young adult stories. Her enthusiasm convinced me to also write and we attended mystery conferences and enjoyed endless hours laughing and talking. She was a gracious hostess and fabulous cook. I asked her how she could make every visit a relaxing spa event of joy and comforting she told me since she didn't have any children, she parented adults. When my daughter was 12, we all went to New York and laughed as much as we shopped and gallery hopped. Peggy enjoyed everyone's accomplishments with a compliment and her warm laugh. She even published a book of a homeless woman's poetry. My husband Jim and I spent a lot of time with Peggy in Chicago so all three of us will miss her and eventually smile at the warm memories of love and friendship. She loved her cats and dogs and the picture of Niya and her confirms that they are together now. In closing, she loved her family as much as they loved her. .
From: The Hilton Family
Our deepest condolences to your family.