Margaret Baird French
Margaret Baird French, age 88, passed away with family by her side on Saturday, March 29, in Santa Barbara.
She is survived by her two children, Valerie (Michael) and Eric (Meredith), and five grandchildren, Kate, Colin, Alessandra, Liliana, and Melissa, who miss her dearly. She was predeceased by her parents, John and Maisie Baird, and her younger brothers, John and Chris.
Margaret was born on Halloween, October 31, 1936, in Renfrew, Scotland. She liked to say that the witches brought her. During her youth, she enjoyed playing field hockey and dancing. In 1956, she was crowned Miss Rothesay. That same evening, after the pageant, she attended a dance where she met Ian French for the first time who would later become her husband.
Margaret and Ian married in Canada and moved to Santa Barbara in 1962, drawn by Ian’s aerospace job offer at Delco Electronics. They soon welcomed their children, Valerie and Eric, and built a joyful life together filled with family trips to Scotland, days on Santa Barbara’s beaches and hiking trails, and the fellowship of the Unitarian church and de Benneville Pines retreats.
After Ian’s passing in 1982, Margaret worked at The Tudor House and formed close friendships with “The British Crowd,” enjoying Robbie Burns nights, dancing, and weekly lunches. Margaret was grateful for the love and care of Ely, her best friend and caregiver, and Zeff, her longtime friend of 40 years. Their family embraced her as one of their own, and they were her guardian angels in her final years.
She was deeply devoted to her children and grandchildren. Whether she was making art, reading books, throwing a ball, or shopping for twirl-worthy dresses, she delighted in spending time with them.
A gifted storyteller, Margaret shared tales of hope, joy, and resilience—her favorite being of singing songs in bomb shelters with her mother and brothers during WWII, while their father was away and bombs fell near their home. She had an extraordinary ability to find light in darkness, joy in simplicity, and laughter in everyday life. We will miss her stories, her listening ear, her sweet tooth, her beautiful cursive notes, her renditions of “Wee Willie Winkie,” and most of all, her unconditional love and belief in us all to always do our best.
Margaret now rests peacefully with her beloved parents, brothers, and husband.
A memorial plaque has been placed at the base of the two palm trees on Shoreline Drive, overlooking the children’s playground where Margaret cherished spending time walking and playing with her grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a charity Margaret deeply admired for its mission to fight childhood cancer.
