Marie Stark Mohan, class of 1943, is being posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame for her example of continued self-education, and her extensive community service.
Marie received a Business Diploma from VR in 1943 and was the first business student to be president of Theta Sigma Nu. She organized each of her many class reunions up until 2014, when only three members of the class were left. Marie never stopped learning throughout her life. She became proficient at handicrafts, sewing, needlework and embroidery. She mastered stained glass, fabric stenciling, wall papering, cooking and gardening. She handcrafted ornaments, wreaths, baskets, chair-caning and painted ceramics throughout her life. Marie’s career, outside of being a homemaker, began in WW II as a teleprinter and multiplex operator and included being the fastest typist the Western Union had ever had. While with WU, she became treasurer of the Commercial Telegraph’s Union, Local 39. After marrying and having her 4 children, she worked for 10 years as a managerial secretary at Montgomery Ward in Menands. Her next job was as a private secretary to Marsh Hallman, owner of Marsh Hallman Chevrolet in Albany, which she did for 24 yrs. While with MH, she became known as the “Derby Lady” for her management of the Soap Box Derby. Marie’s community service began from her unfulfilled desire to be a nurse. She studied and became an EMT, dispatcher and driver for the Rensselaer Volunteer Ambulance Service. Later she served the organization as president, treasurer and member of the Board of Directors. She served the RVA for over 45 years. Her other volunteer efforts included being a Girl Scout leader and president, and later treasurer of Phi Gamma Chi for the First Congregational Church in Rensselaer. She also did much volunteering for Catholic Charities of Schenectady County and at Holy Spirit School. This volunteering was recognized by her receiving the “Dutelle” Award for outstanding volunteer work from CCSC. She also received the prestigious “Capital District Jefferson” Award for Lifetime Achievement in Public Service in 2008, largely for her work with the ambulance service. Marie was also a member of the Gold Star Wives of America. Some of Marie’s leisure time activities included ice and roller-skating, bowling, camping, and swimming. Marie passed away in 2015 having lived in her house on John St. her entire 89 yrs. She leaves 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Her daughter Kathy Gdula ’66 nominated her along with her other daughters Ruth Tyndell and Tina France, and son, Daniel Mohan ’68.