Mary Kay Ream

Mary Kathleen (Mary Kay) Ream passed away on August 20, 2023 at her home in Herndon, Virginia. She is survived by her husband Roger Ream, her daughters Alanna Ream, Kelly McGonigal, and Brooke Via, her sons-in-law Shane McGonigal and Brian Via, six grandchildren, Michael, John, Patrick, and Paul McGonigal and Lily and Caleb Via, four siblings, and fifteen nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Margaret Prendergast, and her brother John Prendergast.

Mary Kay was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and raised in Wyckoff, New Jersey. Her drive to learn began at an early age when she convinced her parents to send her to elementary school a year early. In addition to superior academic performance, she excelled in a variety of competitive activities. She won the North American Irish Dancing Championship and participated in the World Championship in Dublin, Ireland. She was also a member of a competitive cheerleading team at Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township, New Jersey.

Mary Kay received her Bachelor of Science degree summa cum laude from the Fordham University College of Business Administration where she was the first female president of the Beta Alpha Psi chapter, the finance and accounting honor society. Following graduation, she joined Coopers & Lybrand accounting firm in Stamford, Connecticut and obtained her CPA.

Mary Kay inherited a love of running from her father. One afternoon, while jogging around a track in Tarrytown, New York, she met Roger and they began their 43-year love story. She turned down her acceptance to Harvard Business School to move with him to Virginia.

Mary Kay considered her greatest accomplishment to be her family and her family considers her their heart and soul. She left public accounting after 5 years to raise her three girls. Her generous, compassionate, and fun nature created a warm and happy home. She applied her excellent organizational skills to homeschool her children and volunteer in their activities, including swim team and ballet. She was her daughters' biggest cheerleader.

There was no one Mary Kay adored more than Roger - adopting his Green Bay Packers as her favorite sports team, supporting him at countless Fund for American Studies events, and traveling with him on many trips, including visiting Chile, Morocco, China, and much of Europe.

In her later years, she got great joy from spending time with her grandchildren.

Mary Kay was full of life, had a contagious laugh, and is remembered by her family and friends for her unconditional love and kindness.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 26 with a reception to follow at Vienna Presbyterian Church, 124 Park St NE, Vienna, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ream Family Scholarship at The Fund for American Studies (www.tfas.org/donate).