MARY E. HOTTE

Mary E. Hotte of Larchmont and Manhattan died on January 23rd after a brief illness. The Executive Director of the Community Planning Council of Yonkers (CPCY) for 24 years until her retirement in December, she was a longtime community planner and activist in and for the people of Yonkers. A specialist in information and referral, Mrs. Hotte considered her most important contribution to be the fostering of collaboration by diverse groups and individuals to mobilize community building efforts. Mary Elizabeth Peets was born in Long Beach, NY, on July 29, 1927, to Everett and Ethel Brindle Peets. She graduated from the College of New Rochelle in 1948, and went on to earn a Master's Degree in education from Columbia University Teachers College, where she was a Robert Anderson Scholar. On May 29, 1949, she was married in Bronxville to E. Roger Hotte of Buffalo, New York. Mrs. Hotte resided in Larchmont for 50 years where she was an active volunteer with the Adoption Service of Westchester and Family Services of Westchester. In the mid-1960's she served as the project chairperson of the Junior League of Westchester-on-the-Sound, convening a forum of business, political and religious leaders from the Sound Shore communities to identify needs to be met by League funding. Based on this collaboration, she developed and implemented both the Youth Employment Service of Larchmont and Mamaroneck and Carver Center in Port Chester, programs which continue today as models of community action. Her greatest personal joys were her family, international travel, and her community. She was outspoken in her belief that Larchmont must find ways to welcome citizens of diverse backgrounds and incomes, and was a regular contributor at Town meetings. She was a 50 year member of the Larchmont Badminton Club, which was her favorite weekend activity, and a long-time member of the Larchmont Yacht Club where she remained a strong supporter of the junior sailing programs. Mrs. Hotte's professional career began at the Institute for Community Studies at Sarah Lawrence College, where she worked to promote scattered site housing in Yonkers. She went onto become the Associate Executive Director of the Westchester Community Planning Council before joining CPCY as Executive Director in 1981. She served as Commissioner of the Westchester Housing Opportunity Commission and as Vice President of CLUSTER, a Yonkersbased multi-service nonprofit agency. Through CPCY she initiated the Yonkers Community Health Coalition, Parents as Partners, the WORK program, Work Opportunity Referral for Kids, YEFI, the Yonkers Elder Friendly Initiative and 55 Plus Yonkers Connections. After developing and operating the first program for homeless and run-away youth in Westchester in the 1980's, she became an early advocate for the thousands of homeless people county-wide and in Yonkers, helping to develop the Coalition for the Homeless of Westchester. Recognized locally and nationally, Mrs. Hotte has been honored by the County of Westchester, The Spanish Community Progress Foundation, and she received the Memorial Youth Service Achievement Award from the Siragusa Foundation. In 1998, at her 50th reunion, she was honored by the College of New Rochelle with the Ursula Lauris Citation, "in recognition of the many years devoted to serving her community, and her deep and abiding commitment to others." In 2002 she was honored with the Civic Award from the YMCA of Yonkers. Mary Hotte is survived by her husband, E. Roger Hotte of Larchmont and Manhattan, three daughters, Elise Young of Larchmont, Margaret Jednak of Yorktown, and Clare Bournigal of Arlington, Virginia, and 12 grandchildren. Her most profound joy in life was supporting and participating in the activities, endeavors, and professional aspirations of her family. Visitation at Fred McGrath & Sons, Bronxville, Wednesday 24 pm and 6-8 pm. Funeral mass at St. Augustine's Church, Larchmont, Thursday 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Calvary Hospital, 1740 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10463.