Margaret Ann Rudell Lydon

Date of Birth

February 22, 1939

Date of Death

August 5, 2015

Margaret Ann Rudell Lydon, sister, loving wife, devoted mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, passed away on August 5, 2015 after a valiant struggle against complications of ALS. Margaret was born February 22, 1939 in Wausau, Wisconsin, the daughter of Dorothy and Carl Rudell, into a loving family as the youngest of 4 children. The family later moved to Laguna Beach, CA, where Margaret attended High School.

Margaret received her undergraduate degrees in San Diego, and her Masters from University of San Diego. She was an account manager at Knapp Communications Inc., managing Architectural Digest and Bon Appetit Magazines. Later Margaret followed her calling and became a teacher, first at Saint Joseph High School in Santa Maria and later at Lompoc High School, from which she retired in 2000. At Lompoc she was a beloved English teacher and yearbook advisor.

Margaret was married to Roger Lydon for 30 years until his death in 2012. She spent the last 25 years of her life in Santa Barbara. She and Roger were active in the Mental Health Association of Santa Barbara, now called the Mental Wellness Center, where they received the honor of being named the 2004 Volunteers of the Year. Margaret served as Chair of the Santa Barbara County Mental Health Commission where she was a strong advocate for children’s services and also traveled the state educating fellow teachers about mental illness for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Margaret was involved in the music communities of Santa Barbara and L.A. She was a season ticket holder for the LA Philharmonic, and an avid fan of the Music Academy of the West and the Santa Barbara Symphony. She also sang in the Santa Barbara Master Chorale. Margaret also loved traveling, gardening, biking, hiking, swimming, cooking and reading.

Margaret is preceded in death by her husband and siblings. She is survived by her step-children, granddaughters, nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Margaret’s life was held Monday, August 10 at 11am at Moby Dick Restaurant 220 Stearns Wharf (Santa Barbara Pier).

The family would like to thank the staff at Valle Verde who loved and cared for Margaret during her time with them.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that contributions be made to Santa Barbara Mental Wellness Center or ALSA.org

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