Mary P. Cassarino

Mary Patricia Hoth Cassarino, 81, a beloved educator, devoted wife and mother, and cherished member of the Rutland community, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2025, at Equinox Terrace in Manchester Center after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Born on December 12, 1943, in Mishawaka, Indiana, Mary was the eldest child of Frederic and Elizabeth (née Porter) Hoth. Her family relocated to New Jersey during her early years and later settled in Vermont in 1952, making Shaftsbury their home in 1953 and later moving to Bennington. Mary graduated from Bennington Catholic High School in 1961 and soon after joined the Sisters of St. Joseph in Rutland, dedicating a decade of her life to religious calling as Sister Mary.

During her time in the convent, Mary earned a Bachelor of Education from the College of St. Joseph in Rutland and a Master of Education from Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan, in 1972. As a member of the teaching order, she taught at St. Peter’s and Christ the King schools in Rutland, St. Charles in Bellows Falls, and served as principal at St. Peter’s beginning in 1969. After leaving the convent in 1971, Mary continued her vocation as an educator and administrator in the Rutland City Public Schools (RCPS), where she spent the next 35 years inspiring students and colleagues alike.

Mary was passionate about teaching and over her 42-year career, she championed innovative approaches to education, encouraging students to think critically and creatively. She introduced countless young minds to the wonders of nature through weeklong programs at the Keewaydin Environmental Education Center on Lake Dunmore. In the late 1990s, she inaugurated RCPS’ Gifted and Talented program, providing enrichment learning on topics such as Vermont history and geography.

Her love for geography was a defining aspect of her life. Mary represented Vermont at the National Geographic Society’s Summer Geography Institute in 1992 in Washington, D.C. and played a pivotal role in the founding of the Vermont Geographic Alliance (VGA). As National Geographic’s Geography Action Coordinator for Vermont, she developed curriculum and held many workshops for educators statewide and brought giant maps to schools, sparking curiosity and exploration in students and earning her the title of “Geography Queen.” Even after retiring from RCPS in 2006, Mary continued to share her expertise through VGA activities and by mentoring student teachers at Castleton State College until 2013, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of education.

On an extremely hot August 1, 1975, in Shrewsbury, Mary married John Cassarino, and together they built a life and family. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by loved ones. Mary was a longtime member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and later Christ the King Church. She found joy in reading, solving puzzles, and spending time with her family.

Mary is survived by her devoted husband, John Cassarino of Rutland; her children, Antonia Cassarino Goncalves (Wagner) of Silver Spring, Maryland, and Stephen Cassarino (Janet) of Rutland; her stepdaughters, Gina Huff (Chris) of Franklin, Indiana, Joanna Buckley (Stephen) of Hartland, and Paula O’Dell (Cody) of Keene, New Hampshire. Her legacy of love continues through her grandchildren: John (Antonia); Paul, Elena, Veronica, James, Maria, and Isidora (Stephen); Olivia and Maria (Gina); Carter and Hudson (Joanna); and Madigan (Paula), as well as three great-grandsons Jack, Archer, and Dashiell.

Mary also leaves behind her siblings, Mary Hoth, Frederica Carr, Rebecca Murray, Dennis Hoth, Michelle Blanchard, and Christopher Hoth; her close cousin, Dr. Daniel Hoth; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her mother, Elizabeth (née Porter) Hoth, in 1956; her father, Frederic Hoth, in 2016; her stepmother, Estelle (née Betit) Hoth, in 2025; her sister, Teresa (née Hoth) Gangell, in 2022; her brother, Michael Hoth, in 2025; and her grandson, Dominic Cassarino, in 2014.

Friends may call on Friday, October 31, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Clifford Funeral Home, 2 Washington Street, Rutland.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 1, at 2 p.m. at Christ the King Church, 66 South Main Street, Rutland. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, with a reception afterward at the Franklin Events Center, One Scale Avenue, Building #3.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Development Office, 577 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104, or to a charity of your choice.