Margaret DeLuca Loughead

Obituary For Margaret DeLuca Loughead

Margaret DeLuca Loughead died peacefully on Thursday, September 11, 2025 at her home in Sarasota, FL, surrounded by family. She was born to John J. and Lois Smith DeLuca on November 23, 1932, in Wilmington, DE and attended public schools in Wilmington; Dean Academy in Franklin, MA; and Wheelock College in Boston, MA. She then embarked on a career in early childhood education. In 1956 she married John Rea Loughead, an OBGYN physician and jazz trumpet musician, and together they raised seven children, living in various homes and communities around the country.

Her early childhood education career was highlighted by teaching during the initial desegregation efforts in Wilmington Public Schools and in one of the first classrooms for intellectually disabled children in Baltimore. Later in her career she enjoyed teaching in an arts infused school for young children and in retirement she volunteered as a reading tutor at Booker Elementary School in Sarasota.

She enjoyed having conversations with everyone she met and especially delighted in having family around her table and keeping up with her children and grandchildren. Reading and sharing books with family and friends was one of her great enjoyments. She also had a lifelong interest in sports and jazz and loved rigatoni with Italian sausage and biscotti.

She was predeceased by her husband of 52 years and their son Peter (Heidi) Loughead, both of Lewisburg, PA.

She is survived by her brother Louis (Victoria Faoro) DeLuca, Berea, KY; six children: John (Anna) Loughead, Albuquerque, NM; Michael (Mimi) Loughead, Oakmont, PA; Mary (David Eckhart) Loughead, Reading, PA; Lois Loughead, Park City, UT; James (Shira) Hammarhead, Germantown, PA and Jake Loughead, Baltimore, MD; nephew Sam (Vanessa) DeLuca, Ponte Verda, FL ; fourteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A celebration of life will be scheduled in the future. Memorial contributions may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota and Desoto Counties to support the 21st Century program at Booker Elementary School.