Educator and Athlete Remembers Alma Mater in Estate Plan

Irma Peoples ’44 made many friends with her warm smile and gentle ways.

If we are judged by our own actions, Irma Peoples ’44 was judged as good and faithful to her beliefs in religion and education. In fact, she believed religion was essential to inject elements of compassion and truthfulness into young lives and that education was the key to preparing young people for a useful, happy future.

Irma grew up an active child who enjoyed roller skating in her neighborhood. The unused roads around her rural Philadelphia home were a great opportunity to break in her red flyer roller skates with their large rubber wheels. Many happy summers were spent fishing at her family’s vacation home in the Poconos—a hobby that stayed with Irma her entire life.

Her parents encouraged her school studies and attendance at Albright during the years of WWII. At that time soldiers were also on campus, so it was an exciting, confusing time. Irma remembered that the College had an excellent chef, and the food was always good.

During her time at Albright, Irma was involved in many activities and clubs, serving as vice president of Pi Alpha Tau Sorority, a member of the Women’s Athletic Association, chairman of the Defense Council, first violin in the Albright Little Symphony, and chairman of the special action committee of the YWCA. A star member of Albright’s field hockey team, the 1944 Cue cited Irma as “The snappy little red head who is a terror to the goalie on the opposing hockey team.” Irma aspired to be a teacher, and a good one too—for all she did, she did well.

And so Irma began a lifelong career of teaching after graduating Albright College. She had many fond memories of the countless students she helped over her tenure. Last year, Irma happily celebrated her 100th birthday. It was a beautiful celebration of her lifetime of accomplishments and achievements.

Upon her passing in March 2023, Albright College was notified that it was a beneficiary in Irma’s will for an unrestricted bequest worth $600,000. It’s clear that Irma continues to support her beliefs by her contributions included in her will. May we all be judged as well by what we do in life and what we leave behind!