MARY COGGESHALL

Many wonderful memories flood back of times together with Mary and Bayard in countries around the world. It has been one of life's great honours to have known them and to have counted ourselves amongst their friends and colleagues.

Mary gave encouragement for our work in family literacy....work which is presently reaching thousands of families in India, Rwanda and North America. She provided a wonderful example of caring for her family and reaching out to others. "Main Street Mary" was a friend and an inspiration, and we will miss her dearly. Elise Packard, ProLiteracy Worldwide

On behalf of the Board of Directors of The Institute of Cultural Affairs-USA, please accept our Completed Life Tribute to Mary Coggeshall and her many years of service to ICA and the Ecumenical Institute.

Mary’s many volunteer hours included living the wisdom and vision of ICA’s mission. She was an intelligent and strong woman. Her leadership on the board of the Ecumenical Institute and ICA-USA was passionate and thoughtful. Through her dedication to the Training Inc. program in Newark she clearly chose “being missional” in a creative and wholehearted way. Her robust support of the heath programs around the world will be remembered by all the staff, colleagues and people that were sustained by her generosity.

Mary, and her gracious manner, was a catalyst for people seeking the ability to cooperate and work creatively with others.

The Institute of Cultural Affairs is most thankful and appreciative of her long-term commitment to the Institutes and the services we provide.

Terry Bergdall, PhD
Chief Executive Officer

Tina and I extend our thoughts and prayers to Mary's biological and collegial family on learning today of her passing.

Mary lived a full and wondrous life. She touched my life and thousands of others with her generosity, her passion and hope for the disenfranchised and her willingness to work at the most mundane level to make a difference to the individuals and groups she touched. She knew what she believed in and lived true to those beliefs in her daily life.

I am grateful to be able to call Mary a colleague.

Mary Coggeshall was ever gracious yet direct spoken; a true patrician in every way. She had a great vision for ICA and was prepared to support it both financially and with her personal enthusiasm. Over the years, many members of the ICA community visited her and Baird seeking patronage and she was invariably kind and welcoming to all who showed up - including myself on several occasions. Her spirit will be missed by all who were fortunate to have met her.

What a legacy Mary and Bayard leave for their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in the demonstration of care their lives were about. We never worked directly with them, but were keenly aware of their generosity in helping the ICA Human Development Projects to expand in villages and communities around the world. (We worked in India and Indonesia HDP's.) We celebrate with you the lives of these dedicated persons who have helped to shape the future. Lynda and John Cock, Greensboro, NC

The Coggeshalls were stalwart supporters of human development projects around the world. The people of Sudtonggan, Mactan Island, Cebu Province, PHILIPPINES, celebrate the completed life of Mary whose unpretentious care and collegial presence remain with those who worked with her. Jaime Vergara, Saipan, Marianas Islands.

My sincere condolences to Mary's family. She was such a good woman. I believe she came to Kenya with Lynn Matthews when I lived in Kamweleni, Machakos District as we built the Human Development Institute and conducted all those village meetings across the country in the 80s.. 232 village meetings is the number that sticks in my mind and all the circuits and the village leaders training that followed. She was always a global presence of care to us all. She will be missed by many.

Evelyn Kurihara Philbrook, Vice President of Asia and the Pacific of ICAI. Currently residing in Taiwan.

Mary was a pillar of strength and will in so many endeavor, from the International Exposition to the establishment of Training, Inc. in New Jersey. The improbable made possible was never beyond her vision. We share in your loss and celebrate in gratitude for her life.

When working to set up Training, Inc. in Newark, NJ Mary Coggeshall was a regular member of the set up team of Sheila Maguire, Phyllis Hockley and myself. I can see her now, white hair, blue blazer, and comfortable shoes, walking into an the old church we used as our office space. We would set up in the lounge, prioritizing our list of contacts (mostly provided by Mary) and work the pay phones setting up appointments. She had so many connections in Newark that in no time at all she got us in to see the people we needed to see to get the program up and running. She was an amazing, caring and generous woman.

Mary was a great global citizen. She was an invaluable member of the Board of the Institute of Cultural Affairs International Brussels in giving form to a global network. Mary traveled the world and helped launch a community based Africa HIV/AIDS Initiative. She was a great friend and colleague.
Dick Alton ( Chicago)

Mary was truly a caring soul. She was faithful to her mission to leave the world a better place. It is a privilage to have worked with her in New York, India and the Philipinnes. She was major supportor and leader of the International Exposition of Rural Development. Her full life is a celebration of spirit. Sandra

We will remember Mary's wonderful sense for keeping things in perspective. Her choice to wear a tennis racket on the lapel of her navy blue blazer or shirt dress kept us mindful that the life was most full when lived in balance. Thank goodness for her passion, compassion, and hard questions to be sure things were legal and as financially sound as possible. We are grateful to have known her. Our condolences to her loving family, many of whom we had the privilege of meeting in various corners of the globe as they participated in ICA events.

Norm and Judy Lindblad

We extend our condolences to Mary's family, having just learned of her passing.

I had the opportunity of working with Mary on many projects with the ICA. She was one of the finest individuals I ever met, and I developed great love and respect for her. Her deep sense of care and concern for human beings all over the world marked her as an extraordinarily special person. Her passing is a great loss to us all.

Pat Moriarty and Marsha Hahn

Mary was one of the most ethical persons I have ever met. If caring for others is central to being ethical--and I believe it is--she remains in my mind an Ethical Exemplar.