ForeverMissed
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Peggy Bennion Papp, an internationally renowned family therapist, and a beloved mother, sister, aunt and great aunt, passed away peacefully in New York City on November 13, 2021. She was 98 years old.
Peggy was born on February 20, 1923 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Heber Bennion Jr. and Vera Weiler Bennion. Her father was a rancher and politician, elected Utah Secretary of State for two terms. Much of her early years were spent at her parents’ ranch in Manila Utah, where she rode horses, roped calves and gained physical stamina and a deep love of the outdoors. 
At the University of Utah, Peggy was attracted to the theater and acted in many plays. She  wrote feature articles for the Salt Lake Tribune and later moved to Hollywood to write for movie magazines. She met Burt Lancaster, Rex Harrison, Peter Lawford, and many other stars of the day. 
Wanting to be a star rather than write about them, she went to New York to attend the Academy of Dramatic Arts. Eventually she found work as an actor with a touring version of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman.” She met legendary theater producer Joe Papp on the tour and they married upon their return to New York in 1951.
Peggy and Joe believed that the theater should be available to all people, not just to those with money and privilege. Peggy was instrumental in developing Joe’s ambitious ideas for theater in New York and was involved in fundraising and support for his many groundbreaking efforts, including the establishment of the New York Shakespeare Festival and The Public Theater. She acted in some of the first plays that were produced for the Festival. 
In the 1960s, wanting to have a more meaningful career, Peggy gave up acting to become a therapist. She earned a master’s degree in Social Work at Hunter College and began working at the Ackerman Institute for the Family in New York, where she worked for more than 50 years.  
Peggy was a pioneer in family therapy who developed many innovative techniques based on artistic metaphors, including family sculpting, that became popular in the field and are still widely used. She was ahead of her time in focusing on the role of gender in family therapy, specifically the ways that gender socialization disadvantages women, and her feminist influence enabled a further focus on social class and race in the field. She gave workshops in 30 countries, in every state in the U.S., and wrote several books that remain in the canon of family therapy to this day. Peggy’s therapy practice was her life, and she continued to work at the Ackerman Institute and in private practice well into her 90s. 
Peggy will be remembered as an energetic, courageous, adventurous, thoughtful, generous person who cherished her humble Western upbringing, while also deeply adoring her adopted home of New York City and its thriving theater, art, and music scenes. She was a person of the absolute highest integrity and intellect who was never afraid of speaking her mind but was also a warm, supporting presence in the lives of her family and clients.
Peggy was preceded in death by her ex-husband Joseph Papp, her son Anthony Papp, her brother Weiler Bennion, and her sisters Barbalyn Bennion Curry and Virginia Bennion Buchanan. She is survived by her daughter Miranda Papp Adani.

August 23, 2022
August 23, 2022
I was inspired by Peggy to use sculpting in my work as a therapist which led to me becoming a Trainer, Educator, and Practitioner (TEP) of psychodrama. She changed the course of my career with just one video of her extraordinary work. I will always be indebted to her.
January 26, 2022
January 26, 2022
I knew Peggy during the years she spent on the Bennion family ranch in Manila, Utah. She was an energetic, charismatic lady with a multitude of talents and interests. When Peggy and her husband, Joe Papp, visited the ranch, Joe asked me and another of the ranch hands to dress up like cowboys with six-shooters and wide-brimmed hats while he filmed us running about. I often reminded him that I starred in his first motion picture. Peggy is sorely missed but she remains in my mind as a much loved memory of a colorful past.
December 7, 2021
December 7, 2021
Not many people have the privilege to work under someone as caring and understanding as Peggy, i am grateful for that and if I had to pick a boss again I definitely will pick Peggy.
Each time I try to come to term with the measure of blessings I have working for her, I am left mesmerized the more. It is truly a great privilege to call her my mentor, because she model strength and positivity of the mind.
Her motivation and kindness are few traits that make her the great leader she was.
Going off for the weekend, I can't forget our last conversation, "Paulette thank you for taking good care of me, you has taken good care of me and I appreciate all you have done for me". Going through the door the last thing she said, "SIng a song for me at church tomorrow and write it down so you can remember to sing it for me when you come. I never get the chance for us to sing that song but I will always remember the last song we sung together, Jesus want me for a sunbeam to shine for him each day. That the song we always sing on a cloudy day.
Peggy you life has shine and will continue to shine. You will always have a special place in my heart ❤ .
Rest well Peggy.
December 7, 2021
December 7, 2021
I am very blessed to have had Peggy as a therapist for the past several years. The fact that she was still seeing patients in her mid to late 90s is a testament to how much she loved being a therapist (and she was one of the best in the world). I started seeing her during a very difficult period of my life, and her compassion, encouragement, and wisdom helped me to navigate the challenges I was dealing with. The goal of therapy is to develop the tools and insights to be able to work through problems on our own, and eventually I was able to do that. However, I missed our weekly talk sessions which were always a breath of fresh air. She helped me reframe my thoughts to be more positive, appreciative, and caring. I will never forget one of her homework lessons which was to smile to people on the street - something which can be a bit awkward in New York City, where strangers tend to be curmudgeonly, but can also have some surprising results. Peggy taught me that smiling, being friendly, and having a positive attitude is something that we can always tap into.

It was painful for me to learn that she is no longer with us. I already miss her pure energy, radiant smile, and dancing eyes. But in my mind she will always be there, cheering me on, and I will forever be grateful for our time together. Thank you, Peggy.
December 4, 2021
December 4, 2021
Peggy Papp was one of the most intriguing Individual I have ever met . Even though I had only been in her life for a small fraction of her lifetime she has touched my life in a very special way . Peggy was a people person she loved all races and cultures she saw the hearts of others and not the color of their skin . Peggy often reminisce about growing up in Utah on the ranch ; she spoke about her love of horseback riding . She also spoke about looking out at the mountains and wondering what was beyond . One fine afternoon she decided to take a ride to find out , she road and road yet she was so fascinated that she kept on going deeper into the abyss . She didn’t realize how late it had gotten , she’d went so far away from home that she got a little lost . She decided to turn around and head back to the ranch . All this time she had no idea that her parents we’re out trying to find her . When she finally got back she saw her dad outside… she said she will never forget the look on his face and the sound of his voice when he said to her don’t you ever ever do that to your mother again . She spoke about the delicious rabbit stew that her mother made . And her school house that was only one room divided into four different grade levels . She also spoke about the way women were expected to dress when she was growing up in Utah . Woman had to wear dresses down to their ankles with long sleeves and no color . She hated those dresses and for that reason she loved modern fashion and the wide variety of colors and styles that came with them . She said she was ecstatic that woman finally got the chance to decide what the length of their dresses should be . Peggy also spoke about moving to New York to pursue her love of the arts and the three roommates with whom she shared one room . She spoke about the letters that she wrote to and received from her dad . She’s enlightened me about the fact that her dad always ended his letters the same way . By writing “please take good care of your health because without your health you have nothing “. She loved him dearly and hung onto his gavel in commemoration . Peggy was a talented woman , she was a author , actor and a therapist just to name a few . Her work brought her all over the world to speak at seminars . She collected several sculptures and artifacts from the countries she visited and she decorated her home beautifully with them all . Peggy also met and spent time with my five year old daughter Summer , they read together and played games . Peggy even taught her to dance Ballet . She said spending time with my daughter reminded her of the times she’d spent with her own daughter whom she loved dearly Miranda . Peggy enjoyed going for long walks daily it didn’t bother her if it rained or snowed or if the temperature was cold or hot she had to go for a walk . If going outside seemed impossible she would go for walks in the hallways of her apartment building walking back and forth over and over again until she was satisfied . Peggy exercised every morning when she woke up . She loved reading the New York Times every morning at breakfast even though she only read the front page . At nights when she got into bed she always said good night sleep tight don’t let the bugs bite and then she laughed . Fly high Peggy Papp .

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Recent Tributes
August 23, 2022
August 23, 2022
I was inspired by Peggy to use sculpting in my work as a therapist which led to me becoming a Trainer, Educator, and Practitioner (TEP) of psychodrama. She changed the course of my career with just one video of her extraordinary work. I will always be indebted to her.
January 26, 2022
January 26, 2022
I knew Peggy during the years she spent on the Bennion family ranch in Manila, Utah. She was an energetic, charismatic lady with a multitude of talents and interests. When Peggy and her husband, Joe Papp, visited the ranch, Joe asked me and another of the ranch hands to dress up like cowboys with six-shooters and wide-brimmed hats while he filmed us running about. I often reminded him that I starred in his first motion picture. Peggy is sorely missed but she remains in my mind as a much loved memory of a colorful past.
December 7, 2021
December 7, 2021
Not many people have the privilege to work under someone as caring and understanding as Peggy, i am grateful for that and if I had to pick a boss again I definitely will pick Peggy.
Each time I try to come to term with the measure of blessings I have working for her, I am left mesmerized the more. It is truly a great privilege to call her my mentor, because she model strength and positivity of the mind.
Her motivation and kindness are few traits that make her the great leader she was.
Going off for the weekend, I can't forget our last conversation, "Paulette thank you for taking good care of me, you has taken good care of me and I appreciate all you have done for me". Going through the door the last thing she said, "SIng a song for me at church tomorrow and write it down so you can remember to sing it for me when you come. I never get the chance for us to sing that song but I will always remember the last song we sung together, Jesus want me for a sunbeam to shine for him each day. That the song we always sing on a cloudy day.
Peggy you life has shine and will continue to shine. You will always have a special place in my heart ❤ .
Rest well Peggy.
Her Life

Peggy's life in her own words, as dictated to her daughter Miranda earlier this year

November 29, 2021
I was born February 20, 1923. My early years were spent at the family ranch in Manila, Utah with my parents Heber and Vera Bennion, who took me there when I was a baby.
I went to Eastside High School in Salt Lake City in the 1940s. And then to the Agricultural College of Utah in Logan (now Utah State University).
During high school I spent my summers at the sheep ranch in Manila. I was a real cowgirl riding horses, roping calves, gathering eggs and chasing geese. I learned physical stamina on the ranch. I loved to get on a horse and go off exploring different parts of the rivers and canyons by myself.
I was attracted to the theater and was in many plays in college. War was declared while I was at UAC. I went back to Salt Lake and attended the University of Utah. I wrote feature articles for the Salt Lake Tribune and then went to Hollywood and began writing for movie magazines. I had a regular column called I Had a Date With. The studio arranged dates between me and some of the top stars and then I wrote about what the date was like with a particular star. I went out with Burt Lancaster, Rex Harrison and many other leading stars of the day. A photographer would follow us and take pictures. There’s a picture of me with Burt Lancaster in Chinatown and we are throwing pennies in a pond with swans.
After three years of writing for movie magazines, I decided I wanted to be a star rather than write about them, so I went to New York where I attended the Academy of Dramatic Arts. For the next five or six years I went around from agent to agent looking for a job. I finally got one in a touring version of Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. I met Joseph Papp and we fell in love, and when we got back to New York we got married.
Joe and I were both interested in the theater and Joe raised the money to build a Shakespeare Theatre in Central Park. We believed that art was for the people, not just for those with money. So we started a free theater. That theater has lasted 50 years and given millions of people the privilege of seeing Shakespeare for free. I acted in some of the first Shakespeare plays that Joe produced.
We had two children, Miranda and Tony. Joe and I separated after 22 years. Before that I decided to give up the theater and go back to school to get my degree in social work. I worked at the Ackerman Institute for the Family for 50 years and developed a technique on working with families called sculpting. It became very popular and I was asked to do many workshops and presentations of my work in many different countries throughout the world. I gave workshops on this particular technique in 30 countries and in every state in the union.

A ranch story told by Peggy

November 29, 2021
One summer when I was home from school, my father Heber Bennion and I were on a mountain herding a huge herd of sheep. At that time the family was dependent on the sheep raised on the ranch. We got word that a terrible storm was coming and we had to get the sheep back to the ranch, which was 15 miles away. My father and I started to drive the sheep down the mountain. It was night and the sheep didn’t want to move so we literally had to beat them to get them to move, and carry them across ravines, deep canyons and dangerous rivers. 

It was a nightmare, I was so tired but I had to just keep going. My father kept saying to me, ”Keep going Peggy, just keep going.” It was a big lesson that came back to me over and over again in my personal life.
Later on when my daughter Miranda was a teenager, whenever Miranda was sleeping too late in bed I would go in and say “Get out of that bed, your great great great grandmother (Rebecca Winters) walked across the plains pushing a handcart!”  But it had no effect on Miranda who said “Oh mother, that story makes me so tired...I have to go back to sleep again!”

Another ranch story told by Peggy

November 29, 2021
My sister Virginia Buchanan and I were supposed to be herding the sheep one night. We loved Western stories, and we were reading some Western books by the lamp light in the sheep tent, when all of a sudden we saw car lights coming up the road.  We were terrified because this was our land, and we thought they were robbers coming to steal our sheep!  My sister ran outside the tent, dramatically threw a bridal on the horse and said “Peggy give me my gun!” I gave her the gun and she shot it in the air to scare them away. Then we heard the voice of my father saying “You sure are a bad shot!”

Recent stories

Celebrating Peggy

December 2, 2021
We are saddened to learn of Peggy's passing. Brad first met Peggy when he went to work at the Ackerman Institute in New York City in the early 1980s. Many years later, we reconnected when she enthusiastically endorsed several of our books. In 2019 we were able to spend several mornings with Peggy Papp in New York City discussing her life and career. She told us all about her early life in Utah, her exciting early years in New York City, how she and Joe Papp bravely survived the horrors of McCarthyism, and her successful career at the Ackerman Institute. One thing we will remember about Peggy is her enthusiasm for therapy as a creative art. She told us how she loved reading the case stories in our books and how they inspired her. Peggy was always learning and open to new ideas but didn't get bogged down in theoretical debates. She was more interested in whether therapists had performance chops and were willing to creatively act to help their clients change. Thank you, Peggy, for being a champion of theatre and the performing art of living each day. (And we can feel you and your dear friend Olga Silverstein reunited on the other side and enjoying a good laugh!) - Hillary Keeney and Bradford Keeney

Peggy Papp, Queen of the Wild Frontier - for her 97th Birthday Party

December 1, 2021
The Ballad of Peggy Papp
(To the tune of "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" written for and performed at her 97th birthday party)

Peggy, Peggy Papp, she’s the queen of the wild frontier

Born as a Mormon pioneer 
Out in the great Utah frontier
Wrangled sheep ‘til she growed up good
Then caught the next bus for Hollywood

Peggy, Peggy Papp, she’s the queen of the wild frontier

Just 21 in Los Angeles
Coughing and weezing in the smoggy breeze
Tried to get cast in low budget movies
‘Cause she hoped to become the queen of the B’s

Peggy, Peggy Papp, she’s the queen of the wild frontier

Wrote a newspaper column ‘bout Hollywood stars
Who took her out in their fancy cars
She’d write the report of how each one would rate
On a night on the town as a Hollywood date

Peggy, Peggy Papp, she’s the queen of the wild frontier

Death of a Salesman may not seem
The venue for a romantic dream
She was the hooker – he ran the show
She became Peggy Papp – that’s all you need to know

Peggy, Peggy Papp, she’s the queen of the wild frontier

Got lots of good roles in those Shakespeare shows
Lots of Juliets to lots of Romeos
Lots of Kates to lots of Petruchios
Left in ’58 – but that’s how it goes

Peggy, Peggy Papp, she’s the queen of the wild frontier

Miranda arrived that very year
Peggy knew it was time to switch gears
Went back to school for social work and then
Became a pioneer once again

Peggy, Peggy Papp, she’s the queen of the wild frontier

Family therapy was her cup of tea
To expand the field was her destiny
With family sculpting, she was an absolute 
Leader at the Ackerman Institute

Peggy, Peggy Papp, she’s the queen of the wild frontier

Over the years she’s been in the fights
For peace, feminism and civil rights
Marched against war and other bad things
And for women’s rights with Coretta Scott King

Peggy, Peggy Papp, she’s the queen of the wild frontier

Now on the fashion-able upper East Side
From her window she can watch all the boats on the tide
And soon she can really start to have some kicks
Now that she’s no longer 96!

Peggy, Peggy Papp, she’s the queen of the wild frontier

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