Mary Dawne Arden

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Mary Arden Obituary

1933 - 2014
Mary Dawne Arden, a former American actress and model, who worked in both Hollywood and Italy, died Saturday, December 13, 2014, at Calvary Hospital in Brooklyn. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and moved to NYC at the age of 12 to attend art school.

Mary Dawne had a successful modeling career in Europe and appeared in numerous Italian movies during the 1960s.
Arden modeled for the runway shows and top fashion magazine photographers for some of the world's greatest couture designers including Valentino, Yves St.Laurent, Christian Dior, Lanvin, and Karl Lagerfeld. She worked for and was on the cover of fashion magazines, including Italian Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, Mademoiselle, Bellezza, L'Art et la Mode, Novita, Cosi, and Madam.

Her best known film role is Peggy Peyton in Blood and Black Lace, directed by Mario Bava. She also appeared as an uncredited cameo in Juliet of the Spirits. While in Italy, Mary Dawne also appeared in photo novels, including Sadistik. Arden has been credited for over a dozen roles in foreign and domestic films.

Arden spent four years in the Caribbean and Latin America as a marketing director and general manager for Helena Rubinstein International. Arden hosted and created fashion segments for the Channel 11 Noon News in Los Angeles California. She lived in Mexico City, where she taught at the modeling, self-improvement, and acting school that she created. With respected news anchor, Juan Lopez Moctezuma, she co-hosted television documentaries for Mexican Public Television and created special events for top designers for the leading department store El Palaccio de Hierro.

When Mary Dawne returned to NYC, she began her own marketing and body language consulting firm, Arden Associates. The firm has developed marketing, public relations, training and new product introductions for many fashion, cosmetic and consumer-product companies such as Elizabeth Arden, Clairol, Givenchy, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany and Co., May Co. California, Lanvin, Estee Lauder, and Lancome.

Mary Dawne appeared as a Communications Expert for the NBC Today Show, Weekend Edition as well as FOX 5 and CBS. Arden was on the faculty of New York University's Department of Culture and Communication, where she taught cross-cultural and business communication. She was also a member of the Commission for the Arts and Humanities in Education at NYU.

Arden is predeceased by her parents and former husband, Arthur A. Hansl. She is survived by her cousins Allan Ohaver, his wife Glenna and their children Dawn and Aaron, and Mike, his wife and their children Tamara and Kelly.

In memorial to Mary Dawne, please consider a donation to the Jarvie Commonweal Service. Jarvie partnered with Mary Dawne with extraordinary grace and compassion throughout her illness.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by New York Times from Dec. 15 to Dec. 16, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Mary Arden

13 Entries

Barbara Landegger

September 11, 2015

I always hoped we would bump into each other in the city.
I lost track of you but will always remember the fun we had
living in Rome and Paris in the 60ties I hope your end was
peaceful and I will treasure your memory.I just saw it in the SAG obituaries. Love, Barbara Landegger

May 8, 2015

Dear Mary Dawne
I met you one afternoon in NY you felt like a soul sister. We giggled the whole afternoon with the sheer joy of meeting up.
May your path home be clear as you shine on your way
Many joyful blessings Tamayra Sydney Australia.

March 8, 2015

I am so sad and shocked!!! I was May Co/LA/Wilshire fashion director as a 21 year old in 1969. Mary Dawne "bounced "into my life after she returned from Italy and was a pro as a model. She and Art were living in Bel Air. MDA became the sis that I did not have. At this moment, I just called her NYC number with a disconnection notice. WHAT!? I would call her every few months from CA's OC. We spoke frequently. I have offered her housing over the years (and she was here in a heartbeat) whenever she was in the area. My husband died in April very quickly. Now, the loss of Mary Dawne, is a shock to say the least. I, my daughter and grandkids visited her in Manhattan a few wears ago. She, in turn, was spoiled in New Jersey by my daughter, Vanesa, as they were transferred East (from CA) by their drug company. I have been shot out of the water with this discovery. MDA was a classy lady with a big heart. I hope I do as well as I transition into MY elder years and pack up and move closer to my children.
To her family, my sincerest condolences. When she moved East, she and I would have marathon phone conversations. She was a marvel and I will seriously miss her.

Love to all who cared for her
Vi (Violeta) Bingelis-Kaselionis
Tustin, California
[email protected]

Debbie Capone

January 23, 2015

I met Mary Dawne at the dental office I work at! She had some work done , but what I remember most is that she always tried to tell me what I should do about my hair, make-up just things like that! It was very sweet, she spoke a bit about her past abilities to me & I actually surprised her on one of her appointments by putting my hair up & she was very happy & commented how much better I looked. I was thinking of her recently because we hadn't heard from her in awhile. The office manager was going through old files & found her chart/ went on her page & found out that she had passed, looked her up & we were all astonished about her career. Understand at the point when she was coming to the office , she was sickly & came with her aide, sometimes she didn't make sense because of the meds she was on but I always tried to help! I will always think of her:) RIP Mary Dawne!

January 11, 2015

Mary Dawne Arden,

We came into contact with Mary Dawne in 1998 at the NYU where she introduced us first to few colleagues of hers, and soon after, took us under her wings as young professionals who had just come to NY from Finland. In retrospect, our travels perhaps reminded her of her journeys from one country to another, so generous and genuine she was with her support of our careers in NY. Her coaching, advice regarding accents, local demeanor, body language, and mentality held nothing back, and even though our paths diverged somewhat as we had children and full-time jobs of our own, the friendship remained, as did our admiration for her unfaltering strength and fearlessness towards life. “ I want you to have an interesting life,” she once said, and now that we do, we miss her terribly especially because a chance to thank her is now gone. With love, Tuija and Jussi

sevrena Ohaver

December 31, 2014

An inspiration to us all, RIP Mary Dawne Arden.

Muriel Capper

December 31, 2014

Goodbye, dear Mary Dawne, You were a special friend and an inspiration to all who knew you. There is another star in the heavens - with love, muriel

Tim Lucas

December 20, 2014

Dear Mary Dawne... I got to know her when she agreed to be interviewed for a biography I was writing about the Italian film director Mario Bava, for whom she had worked. I interviewed dozens of people for that book, from all over the globe, but - being an entrepreneur herself - she took an interest in me and my efforts, and appreciated how my work could benefit her own self-promotion in terms of what she was doing at the time. We helped each other. In interviewing her, I learned a lot about her early years, about being the child of a single mother, about areas of her past that she clearly hadn't examined much herself but was willing to do for me, a stranger, because she believed that my project had value. We never met in person, but in our long distance communications, she was always so kind, so good natured, generous and helpful - and, above all, so professional. I knew from the sound of her voice that she smiled a lot but that she seldom laughed; she was a hard and diligent worker and I got the sense that she viewed life as a battlefield, that each new opportunity or challenge required a strategy to meet it. I admired this quality she had of being "a good soldier" - which had been instilled in her by her mother from the time she was a child. She was a beautiful model, a talented actress, and a good friend. I'm so glad that my work gave me the opportunity to cross her path and to introduce her to new friends in her third act. Rest in peace, dear lady.

Jamie

December 20, 2014

My profound sympathies in learning of Mary Dawne Arden's decease. Her labors in the arts and the ineradicable imprint she made there will continue her legacy for others to cherish.

Anthony Mark

December 19, 2014

Dearest Mary Dawne. You were a great friend and a very special human being. Your kindness and generosity will never be forgotten. I know I was stubborn, but I promise I will continue working on slowing down my speech and doing my breathing exercises regularly. I wish I could have spoken with you one last time to say goodbye. I will miss you terribly.

Jennifer

December 16, 2014

Sincere condolences, may she R.I.P and may your fond memories and prayers see you through

December 16, 2014

My heartfelt condolences for the loss of your loved one. May the Father of tender mercies comfort you and your family.-Psalm 94:19

McCarthy

December 15, 2014

I am so sorry for your loss. May the Most High God comfort you as you mourn the loss of your loved one. (Psalm 83:18)

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