GSLIS Edition - Simmons College

voices:
PEGGY ADELSON SASLOW ’44
HOMETOWN: New Milford, New Jersey
OCCUPATION: retired high school home
economics teacher
ON HER OPTIMISTIC LIFE VIEW: “I am
inordinately content with my life —
I loved my husband and children
and I thought we were incredibly
fortunate. I always fi gured
I was a pretty lucky gal.”
“When I think of
Simmons, I think
of my friends.”
Ask Peggy Saslow ’44 what she thinks about her life and she’s likely to give a very upbeat response.
With a sharp wit and the energy of a teenager, this octogenarian epitomizes not only the “Greatest
Generation,” but also the quintessential Simmons woman.
“I think that I’m part of the greatest generation ever, and I know part of that is because of my
Simmons experience,” said Saslow.
The youngest of seven children — and the fifth girl — Saslow grew up in Boston’s Beacon Hill
neighborhood. Her parents were Russian immigrants who believed strongly in education. One of
her brothers went to MIT, a sister to a music conservatory, and Peggy Well, her choice for college
was an easy one.
“I always wanted to go to Simmons. It’s the only college I applied to. If anyone asked me, I’d tell
them I want to go to Simmons and be a dietician,” said Saslow. And that’s exactly what she did.
Saslow entered Simmons at the tender age of 16 as a commuter student. She enjoyed her time
in college, studying hard, learning to play bridge, and making lots of friends. After graduation, she
wasted little time building her career. Moving to New Jersey, Saslow lived and worked at Newark
Beth Israel Hospital, first as a dietetic intern, and then as a staff member. The following year —
1946 — she met and married the love of her life, Sidney.
A happy marriage, two daughters, a son, and a full-time job as a high school home economics
teacher ensued, filling Saslow’s life for many years. Later, other activities would follow, such as elected
positions on the Board of Education and the Friends of the Library, volunteer work for Temple
Beth Tikvah, and teaching AARP driver safety classes. But always, there was Simmons.
Among her many connections to Simmons, Saslow has been president of the Class of 1944, 2004
Reunion chair for her class, secretary to the Alumnae Association Executive Board, co-director of
the Northern New Jersey Simmons Club, a class officer, and the recipient of two alumnae awards.
She also is a regular donor, having made several leadership gifts, including the Florence Saslow Gift
Annuity and naming a space in the new library for her niece.
As if that wasn’t enough, Saslow also is the matriarch of an impressive Simmons lineage: both
of her daughters, a niece, and her granddaughter all graduated from Simmons.
“When I think of Simmons, I think of my friends,” said Saslow. “It’s been absolutely thrilling to
be involved with Simmons for all these years. I enjoyed my time at Simmons and made some wonderful,
lifelong friends. Simmons has done a lot for me.”