Obituary of Mary Ann Curtis

Mary Ann Curtis, retired US Naval Commander, Georgetown University MBA, CPA, arts devotee and long-time resident of Washington, DC, passed away at the Army Distaff Foundation where she had been living since early 2011. Born to Herbert Blaine Curtis, Sr., and Hazel Lenore Hershey Curtis, Mary Ann was raised in rural Ulysses, Kansas, along with her older brother, "Blaine," in what she described as the quintessential, idyllic mid-western upbringing. Mary Ann's innate curiosity and keen intellect prompted her lifelong involvement in an amazing multitude of diverse activities and learning experiences. These included Future Homemakers of America where she was elected Vice President, actively attending statewide and regional conferences until she was recognized with the State Homemaker Degree. In 1949, she graduated from Stafford Junior High School after continuing to excel academically, ranking second in Division in English at the Kansas State Scholarship Contests. As a high school student, Mary Ann participated on the debate team, reaching the semi-finals at the Kansas State competition. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority as an honors initiate, graduating in 1952 from Grant County Rural High School as Salutatorian. After high school, Mary Ann attended the University of Kansas with a commitment to the WAVEs, the Navy's female branch at the time, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy in 1956. While there, she was a member of Tri-Delta national women's sorority, Student Council, Mortar Board and Forensic Honor Societies. As an Ensign, Mary Ann made the front page of the New York World Telegram for a 14th-Birthday celebration of the WAVES. Mary Ann's early service as an occupational therapist in New York City and Hawaii sparked a burgeoning interest in travel, adventure and international culture, and she returned to school to study French in 1958 at the University of Wisconsin. After earning her certification in French, she was awarded a Fulbright Grant to apply her new language skills while working for a year in France as an occupational therapist. Mary Ann managed to slip in some art classes in Paris before her return to the US, and a Navy assignment as an occupational therapist at Oakland Naval Hospital in the early 1960s. Seeking additional challenges, Mary Ann transferred from the Navy Medical Service to administration and teaching at the Women's Officer School staff in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1967-69, followed by work in Philadelphia and Memphis. In the early 1970s, Mary Ann engaged in extensive training in Puerto Rico and La Jolla, California to prepare for her first overseas assignment with a fixed-wing squadron in Rota, Spain, and then in Naples, Italy. Accompanied by Sasha and Grushenka, her two Siamese cats, Mary Ann headed off in her VW Beetle to her final European duty station as an Intercultural Relations Specialist in the Fleet Support Office. She was part of an advance team for the future home porting of a US naval aircraft carrier in Elefsis, Greece. Mary Ann returned to the U.S. in 1974 to the Human Resources Division of the Pentagon. She acquired another degree- a Master's in Psychology-from Catholic University of America in 1977, before retiring from the Navy in 1980. Beginning her next work adventure, Mary Ann pursued a Master's in Business Administration from Georgetown University. During the summer of 1982, she joined fellow GU students in a foreign exchange program with Oxford University, and stayed at Brasenose College/Oxford Centre for Management. The following spring Mary Ann completed her degree and graduated as a member of the inaugural (and pioneering) 1983 MBA class at GU's McDonough School of Business. After graduation, Mary Ann began work for international accounting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP. While at Deloitte she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting-summa cum laude, from the University of Maryland (1987), then continued to study, passing the CPA exam and earning her license in 1988. She later returned to the McDonough School for several years as a special assistant to the dean, working with international students. Her final formal education credential was an Executive MBA from Georgetown. Mary Ann's career came full circle in 1992 when she joined the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) headquarters, to concentrate on higher education, OT certification and her desire to assist others-particularly young people-through learning. She then retired in 1999 from her remarkable 40-year career. Post-retirement found Mary Ann enjoying numerous trips with family and friends. These included an Elder Hostel trip to the Four Corners in the U.S., a journey through Copper Canyon, Mexico, a food and wine excursion to Sicily and an once-in-a-lifetime sojourn to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji in 2008. A zest for the performing arts and music extended outside of work as Mary Ann pursued many interests. She was a 15-year attendee of the Santa Fe Opera through the renowned Ghost Ranch program, as well as a subscriber for years to the Washington National Opera and Shakespeare Theatre Company. Throughout her life Mary Ann was an aficionado of the arts-most formally as a drawing, painting and collage student at the Corcoran School of Art for over a decade. Mary Ann also achieved her Master Gardener certification at the University of the District of Columbia, and became an expert seamstress through attending tailoring courses at G Street Fabrics. She also loved food and took a number of cooking courses over the years, educating herself and experimenting enough to be considered a gourmet cook. We all loved being invited over to sample her creations. In 1974 Mary Ann became a D.C. homeowner and, over time, had many housemates-including numerous international students who were referred to her through Georgetown University as well as the American Field Service organization. Most of her housemates became lifelong friends. Many a memorable evening was spent around Mary Ann's dinner table in her delightful Craftsman-style house located on Observatory Circle across the street from the Vice President's house. After the September 11 attacks, there was a year-long flurry of hush-hush, round-the-clock construction activity, including blasting, across the street to build a high-security underground facility for the Vice President and the naval staff there. When asked about the source of the feverish activity and disturbance, Mary Ann replied that it was most likely VP Cheney drilling for oil. Mary Ann created a home full of laughter, pasta-making revelry, a multitude of celebrations, and a place where all were welcomed. And, while she is no longer with us, our memories of Mary Ann will remain in our hearts, gently prompting us on to a "joie de vivre" such as she had. Mary Ann is survived by nephews Steve Curtis and wife Joan of Portage, Michigan, and Herb Curtis and wife Elizabeth of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, nieces Annette Curtis Meyer of Cody, Wyoming, and Tonya Curtis Moody and husband John, of Brecksville, OH, along with numerous relatives and countless friends around the world. Interment will be in the spring at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors to be followed by a celebratory reception commemorating a life well lived.