Obituary of Marion C. Sanborn

On May 8, 2014, Peggy Sanborn passed away peacefully in her sleep in the loving care of her family from ovarian cancer. Peggy was born in Peoria, Illinois June 29, 1927. Musically and athletically endowed, Peggy at age 16 was a four state rudimentary drum champion and the featured female drummer in all men's jazz band broad- casting from a Chicago radio station. Peggy moved to Washington DC to attend the University. There she met McCleary "Mac" Sanborn Jr. who became her husband in 1947. They resided in Panama where Mac represented Coca- Cola International. Eventually they purchased bottling plants in Barranquilla, Columbia and Maracaibo, Venezuela where Mac III and Katy were born, respectively. In 1953 Mac and Peggy returned to'the US where they purchased a Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Vancouver, Washington where Liz, was born. In 1963 the family moved to Santa Barbara where Mac was Vice President of Bubble Up International and Peggy an accountant. Swimming was Peggy's lifetime passion. Starting with President Kennedy's call for physical fitness in 1960, Peggy began long distance swimming. She began the 50 mile swim program and literally went "off the charts" with the hundreds of miles she swam. Peggy added synchronized swimming. At age 40 she was the featured soloist at the Santa Barbara High School Water Show. In 1990 (age 63) Peggy began competing in the U.S. Master Swimming Program. Starting with the 3 mile "Napels Island Swim" she placed 2nd the first year; 1st the second year! In 1992 she competed in her first swimming pool competition where she placed 1st! Her son-in-law yelling "Go, Grandma, Go!" Peggy competed in the US, Canada and England. She was consistently in the national top 10. Twice she was 1st. Twenty years after that first pool swim competition, she swam the same event a mere 36 seconds slower. Her last event was in January when she swam 1900 yards in one hour. She received her medal three days before she passed. She received numerous awards including All American and Athlete of the Year by the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table. In her lifetime she swam over half way around the world. She volunteered for numerous programs helping the disabled. A lifelong Lutheran, Jesus was her Savior, Church her second home. Mac Jr. and her sister, Luella, predeceased Peggy. She is survived by her sister, Jean Slater, and brother, Walter G. Cassens; her three children, Mac Sanborn III (Sharon), Katy Sanborn (Arne), and Lisbeth Hand (Bob); her grandchildren, Charmian (Adrian), Brianna, Rachel (Jennings), Joshua, Nathan, Daniel (Katy) and Gregory; and great grandchildren, Javi, Caleb, and Olivia. Celebration of Peggy's life will occur on May 16 at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 909 N. La Cumbre Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93110 (805) 687-1577. Contributions may be made to the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara; Hospice; Trinity Lutheran Church. Peggy was an inspiration for many people, she will be dearly missed. We love you Sister, Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma!!!