Mary Zinn

OBERLIN — Mary F. Zinn of Oberlin died in the early morning hours of Feb. 16, 2016, at Kendal at Oberlin.

She was born July 7, 1937, in Salisbury, N.C. The daughter of a Lutheran Minister and an English teacher, she won a full scholarship to Wake Forest University. After being one of the first women to complete the rigorous pre-med studies course there and graduating summa cum laude, she went on to earn her doctorate in organic chemistry from Duke University.

Mary met her husband, Grover, while at Duke, and they were married in July of 1962. They spent a year in Glasgow, Scotland just after their marriage, and thus began Mary's love of travel – throughout Europe and America alike. Summers were always spent in travel as a family event – weeks spent exploring the world with Grover and their two children, Jennifer and Andrew. The years of travel also led to a love of cooking authentic foods from her travels and from places she had only visited in her books. Reading was a great pleasure of hers, as was discussing the books she read with the Community Book Group, which she led for many years. Most books were read with one of her beloved cocker spaniels asleep at her feet!

After Mary and Grover moved to Oberlin in 1966, she began her teaching career at Cleveland State University in the chemistry department. In 1978, she took the position as head of sciences at Lake Ridge Academy, and retired from there after 24 years of inspiring students with her love for science.

Mary's retirement coincided with the birth of her first grandchild, and her later years were brightened with a total of four grandchildren and many exciting trips to visit all of them.

She is survived by her husband, Grover; daughter, Jennifer (Luc Lagasse – grandchildren Oliver and Sebastian); son, Andrew (Collette – grandchildren Gyasi and Gyan); and sister, Elizabeth Holloway (Edward).

A burial service will be private, followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 19 at Kendal at Oberlin. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Nature Conservancy, the Oberlin Community Services Center, or to a charity of choice. Arrangements are in the care of Dicken Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elyria. For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.com.