Margot Pierce Close

Margot Pierce Close, 83, of Peterborough, formerly of Keene and Chesham (a village of Harrisville), passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, surrounded by her family, following a period of declining health.

Born on October 17, 1941, in New Haven, Connecticut, Margot was the second of five children of the late Henry and Mildred (Pope) Pierce. She spent her early years on a farm in Clinton, CT, before the family moved to New Haven. She attended the Dobbs School and graduated from Barnard College in New York City. After college, she worked in research at the New York Public Library’s main branch on Bryant Park.

In New York, Margot met her future husband, Elmer Harry “Hal” Close. The couple settled in Keene, NH, to start their family. Margot worked at the New Hope Center before becoming a full-time mother to her two daughters. After two decades in Keene, the family moved to Chesham, where they lived for 30 years, later making their home in Peterborough.

Margot devoted much of her life to volunteer service in the Monadnock region. She served on the boards of the Keene Family YMCA, the Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery, the Cheshire Hospital Aide Society, and Family Planning of Southwestern New Hampshire, where she was president. She volunteered in the Keene school system, with the Monadnock United Way, and the Keene Adult Tutorial Program. She was a passionate advocate for the Community Kitchen and Hundred Nights in Keene, and for the Monadnock Conservancy.

Her greatest acts of service, however, were often quiet and personal. Margot welcomed and supported immigrant families from around the world, mentored young friends through school, and was always the first call in a time of need. Her generosity and warmth extended to everyone she met.

Fluent in French and German, and conversational in Spanish and Italian, Margot had a lifelong love of learning and connection.

She cultivated beautiful gardens and always had fresh flowers and vegetables in the summer, which she relished in sharing with friends and family. Her salads were legendary — whether the tomatoes with fresh chives picked moments before serving or her luscious bibb salad with the most delicious vinaigrette, she loved to show her love through food. Even now, she is urging us to find some delicious bread, spread some Hellman’s mayo, slice up a fresh tomato (from the garden or pick up at Rosaly’s), throw on a little Crazy Jane’s and enjoy for breakfast.

Margot’s smile could light up a room. She loved dogs, children, and the sea, and they all loved her in return.

She was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Elmer H. Close (Hal). She is survived by her daughters, Josephine Close of Los Angeles, CA, and Amanda Close of Brooklyn, NY; her grandson, Oliver Gurgel of Brooklyn; her siblings Katherine Pierce, Tobey Pierce, Evelina Sarles, and Patience Pierce; and her loving companion, David Woods of Peterborough, NH.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Community Kitchen in Keene, NH, or to your local library or the American Library Association (ALA).

https://thecommunitykitchen.org/donations/#donate

https://www.ala.org/advocacy/show-up-for-our-libraries

Services will be announced at a later date.