Mary Ellen Chambers, a long time Hudson Valley resident and current resident of Naples, Florida died November 15, 2010 at Naples Community Hospital. She was 70.
Born in Poughkeepsie, NY, on September 7, 1940 to Poughkeepsie trial lawyer John J. Mulvey and pre-school teacher Margaret McCann Mulvey, Mary Ellen attended and graduated from St. Mary's School (Poughkeepsie) and Arlington High School. She then graduated from the College at New Paltz, earning a degree in Early Childhood Education. She spent her teaching years as a kindergarten teacher in the Spackenkill School District between 1962-1967 at the Martha Lawrence and Hagantown Elementary Schools.
Forty-five years ago, she married Robert N. Chambers in 1966 at St. Stanislaus Church (Pleasant Valley). Her husband, Bob, survives at home in Naples. He is the former Chairman, President and CEO of the Mid Hudson Savings Bank, headquarters based in Fishkill, NY, from where he retired in 1994. Together, they have two daughters, Mary Beth (who is married and lives in Pflugerville, Texas with husband Glenn Kean) and Ann (who is married and lives in Millbrook, NY to husband Ran Meagher).
Mary Ellen is the loving grandmother of three spirited grandchildren, including Evan Glenn Kean (21) and Olivia Margaret Kean (14) and John (Jack) Mulvey Meagher (6). Mary Ellen is also survived by her Aunt, Ellen Hart Mulvey, who lives in Rhinebeck, NY. She is also survived by six cousins.
Mary Ellen was a community activist and philanthropist. She was active in her childrens' school, serving in volunteer capacities at St. Columba School and John Jay High School. She also served on committees of fundraising events at the Bardavon Opera House. Her passion was her work with the Children's Home of Poughkeepsie, where she served on the Board of Managers for a number of years, including terms as president in 1991-1992. She served on the Vassar Brothers Hospital Auxiliary board for six years and is a past board member of the American Heart Association. She served on the Vassar Brother Hospital Foundation Board from 1997 until 2006. With her husband, she was co-chair of the Vassar Hospital Gala in 1994 and they were named Family of the Year by Family Services of Dutchess County in 1995. She and her husband were recognized by for their philanthropic leadership by the Community Foundation of Dutchess County and they have a conference room named for them in the Dyson Center for Cancer Care at Vassar Brother Medical Center. In 2006, she was recognized by the St. Cabrini Home (West Park, NY) with the Gold Medal Human Service Award.
Notwithstanding the diverse work Mary Ellen did in our community, she asked that in lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy and contributions in her name be made to the Children's Home of Poughkeepsie, 40 Children's Way, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. For her friends in Florida, she has asked for contributions to be made to the Neighborhood Health Clinic, 120 Goodlette Road North, Naples, Florida 34102.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 20th at St. Columba Church, 835 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. Interment will be held privately at St. Peter's Cemetery in Poughkeepsie.