Mary is the type of person who genuinely loves people. She stays young by staying busy and giving back to her community through volunteering. Her volunteer efforts include multiple roles at her church and community committees. She also volunteers at the Treasure Barn in Ohio Living Mount Pleasant, as well as at Soroptimist International (a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment). Mary is 103.
Meet Mary Maurer!
I was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio, attended Ohio State University and University of Texas at Austin and graduated June 1943 with a Bachelor of Business Administration.
Please tell us about your career. What do you love most about what you do?
I worked as Assistant Personnel Director at the RCA Plant for Naval Radar Tubes during World War II. Then I worked at three hospitals in the Texas Medical Center creating equipment lists for new buildings. Returning to Ohio, I served as the Executive Director for Middletown Area Girl Scout Council. Then in Cincinnati for Great Rivers Girl Scout Council as Assistant Executive and Finance Director retiring March 1968. I like working with people!
Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I’m the youngest of four—two brothers and a sister. My dad worked at Armco (American Rolling Mill Company in Middletown) as Superintendent of Maintenance and was sent to Houston to build a plant to make sheets for the shipyards. My mother was a terrific house person. I now have two nieces, one nephew, six greats, eight great greats, and one great great great.
What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Texas Roadhouse and Cracker Barrel.
How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I worked 30 years in Cincinnati for the Girl Scouts.
Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Mary Schloss and Dean Fite, both friends and super people. Mary’s family business was meat processing in Cincinnati, and Dean was secretary for Proctor and Gamble.
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Switzerland—my paternal grandfather, Adolph Maurer, came to the United States from Switzerland and was naturalized.
What is one of your favorite movies, plays or TV shows.
Blue Bloods and also Family Feud on TV, News Nation, Fox News.
What advice would you give to people?
Be happy; adjust to situations; be in control of your life.
What is something on your bucket list?
To stay active, serve on committees, help when I can.
What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Fifth Third Bank. I worked with them when I was with the Girl Scouts and invested our cookie money.
If you could choose anyone past or present to have lunch with, who would it be and what would you like to talk about?
Jack McGuire, my executor–what is going on in the world.
What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The many parks and museums.
What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Hawaii (the four big islands), Pearl Harbor, Alaska.
What is your favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
October—the family gets together, Christmas—same as October, March 13, 1921 (my birthday).
What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Living at Ohio Living Mount Pleasant Village for 29 years and serving there as:
* President of Mt. Pleasant Board
* President and Vice-President of the Resident Association.
* Presently serve on the nominating committee for the residential association and on the ACE committee.
* Additionally, I served five years as Assistant Deputy Clerk of Monroe Council during the fiscal emergency.
Who inspires you to be better?
People
What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Food cooking. Fresh air in the morning.
Who was your favorite teacher or mentor and why?
Kathleen Banker—She taught math and she was also a friend.
What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
My sanctuary!
Is there something we did not ask that you would like to say
I established a yearly award at The Middletown Community Foundation in 1991 to recognize annually an outstanding volunteer of the year between 30 and 50 years of age. This would encourage them to do volunteer service.
I am now serving as lay leader at my church. I greet on Sunday mornings and am on the memorial, finance, administrative committees and attend many committee meetings.
Here’s a little information about Soroptimist International:
Soroptimist International is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. There are clubs in more than 120 countries throughout the world. Our local club was chartered in October 1955. Mary joined 6/1/58, so she has been a member for 66 years. If anyone is interested, they can go to our website at www.middletownsoroptimist.org for more information.
