Obituary: Mary Alice Wren Passes Away At 79

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Obituary: Mary Alice Wren Passes Away At 79

Tuesday, 20 November 2012 00:00

Garden City’s Wren family has announced the death of Mary Alice Wren, a writer, teacher and journalist who died from Alzheimer’s disease on Nov. 6.

Ms. Wren, a resident of Garden City for 41 years, was formerly a teacher at Adelphi University, an editor for Vantage Press and a freelance writer of essays, short stories and reviews for publications such as Ms., Newsday and The Village Voice.

Mary Alice Wren Born in Alpena, Michigan, on July 1, 1933, as Mary Alice Rouse, the daughter of Aldro Martin Rouse and Pauline Robertson Rouse, Ms. Wren was raised in Atlanta, MI, and later in Lansing. She attended Michigan State University and then worked for a year as a newspaper reporter in Kalamazoo, MI, while waiting for her sister, Suzanne Rouse, to graduate from Michigan State. They then set out for New York, Ms. Wren as an aspiring writer and her sister as an aspiring actress.

In New York, Ms. Wren worked for Beauty Fashion magazine, and in 1960 married Charles Gayden Wren, a fellow Lansing native living in New York. They subsequently had four children, and relocated to Garden City in 1971. Ms. Wren subsequently earned a master’s degree in English literature from Adelphi University, later teaching writing and literature at the same school.

A private burial took place on Nov. 10 at Calverton National Cemetery, the burial place of Mr. Wren, who died in 2008. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Ms. Wren’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Ms. Wren is survived by her siblings, Suzanne Rouse Stern of Kingston, NY, and Kendall Rouse of Madison, WI., as well as by her four children, C. Gayden Wren III of Steinway, N.Y., Kendall C. Wren of Hoboken, NJ, Carrie Prystalski of La Grange, IL, and Lauris P. Wren of Kew Gardens, as well as by five grandchildren: Lenny, Ben, Mary and Katie Prystalski of La Grange and Max Mills-Wren of Kew Gardens.

“The two things she loved most were her family and books,” her son Gayden said. “Books and words meant the world to her, and she passed on that love to her children and grandchildren, as well as to her students at Adelphi. Her favorite author was Jane Austen, her favorite book Pride and Prejudice, but she also was a devotee of modern novels and contemporary poetry, as well as a fan of modern art, grand opera, 1960s rock ‘n’ roll and classic country music.

“All her children are readers,” he concluded, “and all of us are musicians. That love of the arts is surely her greatest legacy to us.”

News

Friendship Circle Luncheon Turns 10

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Kroplick and Kammerer honored

On May 8, more than 500 fashionably dressed women converged on the Garden City Hotel for the Sid Jacobson JCC’s tenth annual Friendship Circle Luncheon. Notable celebrities on hand were Good Day New York co-host Rosanna Scotto, who was also the event’s MC, and singer/actress Megan Hilty from the Broadway play Wicked and NBC’s hit drama Smash, who entertained the ladies with her favorite songs from both shows.

The Friendship Circle Luncheon was started 10 years ago by Denise Silverberg, as a way to raise money for programs providing support for adults in their 30s, 40 s and 50s that are afflicted by Alzheimer’s. Silverberg’s mother has the disease, so she understands firsthand the role of a caregiver and the stresses involved in taking care of someone who has it.

Revised HUB Transportation Study

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Deputy Mayor Nicholas Episcopia attended the HUB Stakeholders Meeting held by Nassau County’s consultants on the Transportation Project. He was joined by EPOA President Judy Courtney, Vice President Chris Mullaney, and Director Leo Stimmler, as well as William Bellmer, a member of the Garden City Planning Commission, Dorothy Episcopia, past EPOA president, and former mayor Robert Rothschild. Bob Schoelle and Brian Ridgeway attended the afternoon session. Garden City is a stakeholder because a large portion of the village lies within the defined HUB area.

As presented, the currently preferred alternative transportation plan appears reasonable and eliminates the construction of a light rail system that would run from the Mineola Station, south behind Arthur Street, and east along the spur adjacent to St. James Street South, as was initially proposed. Nonetheless, as we have consistently done over the years, we will continue to monitor plans for the transportation project and strongly express our opinion if we believe any aspect of this project would be detrimental to the quality of life in Garden City.

Sports

Almost Perfect

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Boys JV lacrosse team goes undefeated

The Garden City JV lacrosse team finished the year with a stellar 14-0-1 record. Led by Head Coach Tom Flatley and Assistant Coach Brett Hepworth, the Trojans overpowered most of their opponents with explosive offensive bursts, tough-nosed gritty defense, and rock-solid goaltending. The offense averaged over 15 goals per game, while the defense allowed just over three goals per game.

The season commenced with a hard fought, triple overtime thriller against Syosset that ended in a 7-7 tie. As the team became more cohesive, most of the next few opponents, including Hewlett, Lynbrook, Carey, Roslyn, Kellenberg, and others, found themselves overmatched against this Trojan team. However, that did not dissuade Ward Melville from putting forth an inspired effort on their home turf for three quarters, before finally falling to Garden City 12-7.

Playing With A Big Stick

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

Defense keys successful lacrosse seasons

The boys and girls high school teams are both rolling and have their sights set on a long run in the playoffs. Both team have faced a number of formidable opponents throughout the season and have successfully navigated their schedules. One thing that has been consistent for both teams has been that their defenses have had to stand tall at key times and shut down very active offenses. Both Coach Finnell and Coach Chapman have made sure that the non-league schedules of their teams will ensure that their teams are prepared for whatever the playoffs can throw at them.

After going the full season last year undefeated, the boys team has three blemishes on their record with losses to powerhouses Ward Melville, Manhasset and LaSalle of PA. With a 9-3 record the Trojans are looking to wrap up the number two seed in the playoffs to force a rematch of the Manhasset game in the County finals. The boys have excelled defensively only allowing 4.25 goals against per game. And if you remove those three tough losses the goals against average drops to 3.1.