Dr. Mary J. Templeton

Dr. Mary Joan Templeton, M.D. (Mrs. Mary Schattenberg), died of natural causes at her waterfront residence in Portland, Ore., on Jan. 27, where she had been living since 2011.

Mary was born in Winona in 1928. Her father worked for General Motors and the family moved frequently. While living on the East Coast, she enjoyed Bryn Mawr, antiques shopping in Lancaster, Pa., with her mother and summers at the beach in New Jersey. Her family ultimately ended up in Detroit, where Mary went to college at the University of Detroit and medical school at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. She came to Mayo Clinic for residency training and it is there that she met her future husband, Texan Tom Schattenberg.

Mary, an internist, soon realized the role of mental health in overall well-being and decided to return to medical school to specialize in psychiatry. At that time, her three children were all under the age of 11. She was very involved in medical school training and offered lodging and mentorship to many medical school students.

She then worked in private practice for many years before taking a position as medical director for the Minnesota State Health Department in 1985, monitoring nursing homes throughout the state.

An ardent feminist, early HMO activist and mental health advocate, Mary generously supported Planned Parenthood, the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA), and other causes. In 2012, she joined the Doctors Mayo Society Leader's Circle with a donation dedicated to female genitourinary research.

Her fondest Rochester memories were of the medical students she mentored, her bridge and tennis friends, a good round of golf at the Rochester Golf & Country Club, her dear friend, Rita Harrison, and her neighbors at Memorial Parkway. She treasured the Guthrie Theater and great movies with strong female leads and/or Paul Newman. Mary imparted her love of the water — whether on a houseboat on the Mississippi or boogie boarding in San Diego — to all her children.

She is survived by her three daughters, Mary (Steve Johnston), Ruth, and Ann (Sam Yamin); her spiritually adopted daughter, Dr. Rebecca Harrison; and her grandchildren, Spencer Johnston, Delaney Skiles, Alex and Sophia Skiles, Hilary Johnston, and Saul and Simone Templeton.

Tom Schattenberg preceded her in death in 2012.

For those wishing to make donations in her name, please consider the organizations listed above. A private service will be held in Oregon.

"Chance favors the prepared mind" L. Pasteur