Mary Martindale Potter

Mary Martindale Potter, age 98, of 902 Dryden Road, Ithaca passed away Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at home. Born Feb. 21, 1914, she was a daughter of Maurice and Caroline (nee Braht) Martindale. Born in Brooklyn, NY she and her family moved to Ithaca at age 4. Mary and her family lived in Ithaca, on Cook Street, where her father owned and operated Martindale Funeral Home, until her marriage to Martin I. Potter in October 1931. She then became a lifelong resident of Booltown and Varna. For 28 years,

Mary served as administrative manager in the Pomology Department at Cornell University, where her husband also served as manager of the Cornell Orchards. They retired together in July 1972 from the university.

Mary was a charter member of the Varna Community Association and the Varna Senior Citizens, where she enjoyed several decades of volunteering and comrade with her fellow members and friends. She served on the Board of Directors at the community center, most recently from 1981-2011 and she held the office of Treasurer of the Varna Senior Citizens from 1977–2009. Mary was also Varna’s Hamlet Historian from 2005.

She is survived by a son, Martin I. Potter, Jr. of Boston, Massachusetts, four grandchildren, Geoffrey M. (Dawn) Potter of Ithaca, Gregory M. (Tina) Potter of Endicott, Mari Potter of Newfield, and Robert (Carol) Stone of Ithaca; eleven great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Mary was predeceased by her husband, Martin, and two sisters, Dorothy Hynes of Tampa, Florida and Catherine Willis of Cortland.

A memorial service and celebration of Mary’s life will be at the Varna Community Center, 943 Dryden Road on Saturday, May 19 at 2PM. A private burial will be in Willow Glen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made in Mary’s memory to the Varna Community Association, 943 Dryden Road, Ithaca, NY 14950. Perkins Funeral Home assisted the family. www.perkinfuneralhome.com