Mcnamara, Margaret M.

ALBANY--Margaret M. McNamara, 93, passed away on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 after a brief illness.

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Peg was appointed a Fellow of the Energy Systems Institute at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences following her retirement from the U.S. Department of the Navy, Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, Rhode Island. Her roles in both were as liaison between local and national academic, industry, and community organizations advancing energy technology through cooperative research and development agreements. Her work developing NUWC’s Technology Transfer program and as an officer in the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Tech Transfer earned her numerous awards, including the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award, and letters of commendation from the President of the United States and the Secretaries of the Navy and Defense. She began her professional life in science and public policy organizing the office of the Assembly Scientific Staff of the New York State Legislature and facilitating groundbreaking legislation on clean air and energy conservation. She was especially proud to be one of the first women in her field.

She graduated from SUNY Empire State College and was a founding member of its alumni/student association. Peg loved travel, whether to Anchorage or Los Alamos for work or Paris for pleasure. A die hard Buffalo Bills fan, Peg also loved her hometown, dining at Rue Franklin, Fendi handbags, and, most of all, her wide circle of family and friends.

She is survived by her brother Emmet J. McNamara Jr and her niece Kathleen M. McNamara (Larry Lichtenstein). She was predeceased by her sister, Elizabeth M. Yates, and her parents, Emmet J.and Elizabeth C. McNamara.

A memorial Mass and celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Little Portion Friary, 1305 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14209.