Margaret “Peggy” Lopes made a career out of helping some of Newtown’s youngest patients while working at several local pediatric practices. And after nearly a half-century of nursing, she is looking forward to a well-deserved retirement.

Lopes was born and raised in Danbury, and knew from a young age that she wanted to be a nurse. After graduating high school, she trained to be a nurse’s aide and became a licensed practical nurse.

“I started back in January of 1973 when I finished school. Then I worked at Danbury Hospital for about six months in labor and delivery,” Lopes said.

That same year, a friend of hers who worked for Newtown pediatrician Dr Tom Draper informed her that he was splitting his practice with his associate Humberto Bauta, a pediatrician from New York, who would be looking for a nurse.

While she loved the hustle and bustle of working at the hospital, the opportunity was too good to pass up.

“At that point, I was working nights. Getting a daytime position and not working weekends sounded perfect — holidays off, even better. I applied for the job with Dr Bauta and ended up working with him until he retired,” Lopes said.

She worked at Dr Bauta’s office, which was located on Mt Pleasant Road in Newtown, for roughly three decades.

Upon his retirement in 2003, Dr Richard Auerbach and Dr Laura Nowacki took over his practice.

During this transitional period, Lopes worked with them for about six months before returning to Danbury Hospital.

“At that point, they were starting a whole new practice, and I thought it was best. You know, when you work with one physician for 30-something years of course you are very comfortable with that,” Lopes said. “Newer physicians sometimes have differences of opinions, and honestly for me I felt it was best I let them find their way.”

For the next three to four years, she worked as a nurse for pediatric pulmonologist Dr Gregory Dworkin at his office. She also worked as a nurse for Danbury Hospital’s then Chief of Pediatrics Dr Jack Fong at his pediatric practice.

During that time, Dr Auerbach and Dr Nowacki moved their office to Queen Street. When they later went their separate ways, Dr Auerbach moved his office onto Church Hill Road and needed a nurse.

“When I realized they were hiring again I knew if I could go back there I would, and that’s what I ended up doing,” Lopes said.

She returned to work in Newtown in 2007 and the following year, she moved from Danbury to Kensington, Conn. The long commute may have been less than ideal but going to work and doing a job she loved made it worth it for her.

As a nurse at Dr Auerbach’s office, Lopes said she did the continuous job of “triaging calls,” especially with first time parents who were always in need of advice regarding their baby.

“I also set patients up, did vitals, throat cultures, gave vaccines, ordered supplies — all that,” Lopes said.

Her favorite part has always been helping patients and connecting with their families.

“I will miss talking to them and the personalities of all of them. I will miss seeing children that have come and started as newborns and are now going off to college … It was an honor and pleasure to work with all of them,” Lopes said.

She even had the unique experience of caring for three generations of one family during her career in Newtown.

After recently retiring, Lopes looks forward to the next chapter in her life. She plans on spending time with her family and enjoying hobbies.

“I’m a big gardener, baker — as the office would tell you, I’m always baking — and a sewer. I love to do that. My husband just finished our basement and created a sewing room for me, which is just amazing,” she said.

Lopes hopes to spend time at the beach, which she found is coincidentally the exact distance she used to commute to work.

She added, “My husband and I are both in relatively good health, so that is great … once a week we drive our little fancy car around and go from place to place. We call it Tuesdays with Phil and Peg.”

Ultimately, Lopes said she looks forward to “just living life” and having time for the simple gift of relaxation.

“I’m an early riser, so I expect to still be up at 5 or 6 in the morning. I just love the calmness of the morning and not having to rush out. That will be really great, too. It will be wonderful,” she said.

Well Wishes

Dr Bauta told The Newtown Bee that he was thrilled to get to see Lopes at her retirement party and that he remembers the great work she did throughout her career.

He recalled, “Peggy worked for me since my daughter was born in 1974, and she worked for me until [2003] when I retired. Quite a long time. I hired her right out of training school. She was very wonderful with the children. She took good care of the kids.”

He added, “She’s a very good woman … I always thought, I could leave my practice to Peggy, and she would run it as well as I do, because she was so good. I’m glad she is retired and that she is happy.”

Lopes also worked for longtime Newtown resident Dr Jack Fong, who in his retirement now works part-time as a medical advisor for two public school districts.

He shared, “I think Peggy is an outstanding person as well as outstanding in her profession … Peggy is one of the top people I have encountered in my career, and I have been in medicine since 1958.”

Fong called her retirement party a “happy event” and that it was “a privilege” to have been included in the celebration.

He mentioned that she is “inspirational” for younger people going into a profession, because she was passionate about her career and made a positive difference helping people.

Dr Auerbach gave many heartfelt sentiments about Lopes and is the one who notified The Newtown Bee about her retirement.

He recalls how when he met Peggy in the early-2000s, he found that she was regarded as the “matriarch” of the practice having worked the most years for Dr Bauta.

“My fondness and regard for her experience only grew as the years passed. Her kind nature and warm presentation made every patient and parent feel at ease, whether they were there for a well visit or severe asthma,” Auerbach said.

When she left to work at Danbury Hospital, then returned to the office for a position as his nurse, he said she was “immediately rehired, no questions asked, as if she never left.”

Auerbach noted that after he went through serious complications following upper back surgery that left him with a spinal cord injury and he moved half of the practice down the road, Lopes brought him a bamboo plant for good luck that is still healthy to this day. He cherishes it.

“After a handful of years, with many ups and downs, Peggy was the stabilizing force and highly regarded by her colleagues, be they nurses, doctors, or administrative staff. Everyone looked up to Peggy and everyone went to her first for any questions or concerns they may have had,” he said.

Auerbach emphasized that Lopes was always the first one in the office and the last to leave. Her hard work and commitment did not go unrecognized as he said that the practice is as much hers as it is anyone else’s.

“The practice grew and was successful, in great part, because of Peggy,” he said.

To honor Lopes, Auerbach hosted a retirement dinner for her and fought back tears as he gave his speech.

During that time, he presented her a book of patient photos and read, “I define success by how we are valued by the people in our lives and the change we bring, not only to their lives, but also to our communities, and the world ... You have added so much value to the lives of so many and touched many souls, including my own in ways I don’t think even you can understand. Words are not enough to express my appreciation. Love you.”

Less than a week after her retirement, Lopes returned to thank everyone at the office for her send-off and she left a plate of her beloved lemon bars.

Auerbach noted that Lopes is not only an excellent nurse, but also a superb baker who makes the best banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, and lemon bars he has ever had.

“I always wanted her to open a little bakery, perhaps she may now!” he joked.

Auerbach concluded his sentiments by saying, “I owe Peggy much more than just words. I owe her my success, my highest regard and appreciation, my love, a piece of my heart, and in some ways, a small part of my life.”

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.