Mary Ann Yrizarry, a key figure in the preservation of Sterling Forest and other natural habitats, passed away on December 26, 2025, at the age of 93.
Mary was born in Innsbruck Austria in 1932 to Soren Anders Mathiasen and Geneva (Gregory) Mathiasen. Her family moved to the United States after World War 2 and lived in New York City and Ohio before settling in Tuxedo, New York to a home where Mary spent most of her life.
Mary attended Earlham College in Richmond Indiana for two years before moving to New York City where she worked in travel management, including for American Airlines.
Mary’s real passion was for the outdoors, and she was an avid bird watcher and nature enthusiast. During a vacation in Guatemala, Mary met John Yrizarry, a painter and naturalist, and they married in June 1974. Their mutual interest in the arts, natural history, birding and travel took them on many trips in the United States, Central and South American and Europe.
After living in Brooklyn, NY for many years, Mary and John settled in the family home in Sterling Forest where she dedicated her efforts to land preservation. Mary chaired the conservation committee of Sterling Forest Partnership, leading a years-long effort to purchase and preserve a 575-acre tract of land long coveted by developers. In 2008, the Linnaean Society of New York selected Mary to receive the Natural History Service Award for her role in saving the last piece of unprotected land in Sterling Forest. After the success of this campaign, Mary joined the board of the Orange County Land Trust, which has helped preserve nearly 8000 acres of land through the negotiation of conservation agreements with private landowners, property donations, and the acquisition of private property.
Mary’s husband, John, passed away in 2023. She is survived by her two nieces, Jocelyn and Karen Mathiasen.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Orange County Land Trust in Mary's name.
https://www.oclt.org/
Mary was born in Innsbruck Austria in 1932 to Soren Anders Mathiasen and Geneva (Gregory) Mathiasen. Her family moved to the United States after World War 2 and lived in New York City and Ohio before settling in Tuxedo, New York to a home where Mary spent most of her life.
Mary attended Earlham College in Richmond Indiana for two years before moving to New York City where she worked in travel management, including for American Airlines.
Mary’s real passion was for the outdoors, and she was an avid bird watcher and nature enthusiast. During a vacation in Guatemala, Mary met John Yrizarry, a painter and naturalist, and they married in June 1974. Their mutual interest in the arts, natural history, birding and travel took them on many trips in the United States, Central and South American and Europe.
After living in Brooklyn, NY for many years, Mary and John settled in the family home in Sterling Forest where she dedicated her efforts to land preservation. Mary chaired the conservation committee of Sterling Forest Partnership, leading a years-long effort to purchase and preserve a 575-acre tract of land long coveted by developers. In 2008, the Linnaean Society of New York selected Mary to receive the Natural History Service Award for her role in saving the last piece of unprotected land in Sterling Forest. After the success of this campaign, Mary joined the board of the Orange County Land Trust, which has helped preserve nearly 8000 acres of land through the negotiation of conservation agreements with private landowners, property donations, and the acquisition of private property.
Mary’s husband, John, passed away in 2023. She is survived by her two nieces, Jocelyn and Karen Mathiasen.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Orange County Land Trust in Mary's name.
https://www.oclt.org/
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Yrizarry, please visit our flower store.
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