Marjorie Evert

Marjorie Kathleen (Hulett) Evert was born on July 9, 1929 in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada, the eldest daughter of Mary Kathleen (Smith) Hulett and Coulter Townsend Hulett. Six weeks later, the Hulett family moved to Ellwood City, PA. Sisters Mary Jane and Barbara Anne were born in 1931 and 1933, respectively. When 12 years old and while recuperating from rheumatic fever, Marjorie went to live with her grandparents in a suburb of Cleveland, Lakewood, OH. Later, after Marjorie's grandfather passed away, her grandmother asked her to return to live with her through high school. Marjorie attended Emerson Junior High School and Lakewood High School from which she graduated as Valedictorian in May of 1947. In addition, the faculty of Lakewood High School granted Marjorie the "Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award" for exceptional progress in science studies.

After graduation, Marjorie received a full tuition scholarship to attend the College of Wooster. Entering in the fall of 1947 and excelling in her freshman studies, she was awarded the full tuition "Thompson Prize." Since she already had a full tuition scholarship, Marjorie persuaded the administration to apply the monies to room and board. The summer after her first year of college, Marjorie worked as a research librarian at the Union Carbide National Laboratories in Cleveland. It is there that she met her future husband, Carl F. Evert Jr., who was also working at the same laboratories. Marjorie returned to Wooster, completing two more years as a chemistry major. She was then inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. After a courtship, mostly via the postal service, Marjorie and Carl were married in Ellwood City, PA on July 1, 1950.

The newlyweds moved to Cincinnati, OH where Carl became an assistant professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. The Evert family grew in 1952 with the birth of their first daughter, Caroline Jane. Two more daughters were welcomed with the births of Beverly Anne in 1954 and Kathleen Mae in 1955. Marjorie made her family her priority and served as the foundation of Carl's career, giving numerous dinners for Carl's students and friends. She was engaged in her girls' school and church activities. For several years, Marjorie was a Girl Scout leader. She also worked as a volunteer at the local high school for five years performing various tasks from shelving books in the school library to assisting with health examinations. Next, she turned to tutoring fifth graders in math and science at the local elementary school.

In 1952, Marjorie and Carl joined Pleasant Ridge Church where both remained members until their deaths. Marjorie served in leadership as Deacon, Elder, and Trustee. She gave countless hours volunteering for the Caring Place. She also became a Trustee for the Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Systems Foundation.

In 1960, Marjorie returned to college by attending the Evening College at the University of Cincinnati. She remained on the Dean's List the entire time and graduated on June 10, 1965 with a Bachelor of Philosophy Degree. On June 12, 1977, Marjorie received her Master of Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati. For the first year after receiving her MBA, Marjorie taught one course each in the night schools of the College of Mt. St. Joseph, Thomas More College, and Xavier University, while also attending a class at the University of Cincinnati. Subsequently, Marjorie taught finance in the College of Business Administration at Xavier University for seventeen years.

Marjorie highly valued fine arts and culture. For nearly 50 years, she and Carl held season tickets to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and also attended performances of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. In later years, when no longer able to attend concerts, Marjorie could be found relaxing by listening to classical music on the radio. The theater arts were also important to Marjorie and Carl and they were long-time season subscribers to the Playhouse in the Park. For several years, they also enjoyed the Ohio Light Opera at the College of Wooster. Marjorie and family also frequented the Museum of Natural History and Science (now located at the Cincinnati Museum Center) and the Cincinnati Museum of Art.

Marjorie was a committed environmentalist and community activist. Along with husband Carl, she was active in the Pleasant Ridge Community Council. In 1980, a group of Pleasant Ridge residents, including Marjorie and Carl, became concerned about a toxic chemical waste site on the Hilton Davis property. This led to the formation of Citizens Concerned About Hilton Davis. In 1986, CCHD sued the Ohio EPA and won a consent decree mandating a more than $50 million clean-up of the Hilton Davis/Kodak property. This was the first time that community residents were included in such an agreement. Marjorie became chairperson of CCHD and spearheaded the community monitoring of clean-up efforts for nineteen years. In addition, Marjorie was a volunteer for the Alliance for Chemical Safety. She was also a long-time member and supporter of the Cincinnati Nature Center. In 2013, both Marjorie and Carl were awarded "The Best of Pleasant Ridge, Lifetime Contributors Award." After Carl's death in 2016, the Alliance for Chemical Safety changed the name of their annual "Second Mile Award" to "The Carl and Marjorie Evert Second Mile Award."

Preceded in death by her husband Carl F. Evert Jr, daughter Beverly Evert, parents, and two younger sisters, Marjorie is survived by daughters Caroline (Ted) Tromble and Kate Evert, granddaughters Rebekah (Andreas Storz) Tromble, Erin (Jay Ritchey) Tromble, and Avery (Rachel Ohrenschall) Waklatsi, six nieces and nephews and their extended families.

A Memorial Service will take place at Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church, 5950 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH on Wednesday, October 8 at 2 pm, with the Rev. Sharon Clegern officiating. A reception will follow at the church. Interment will be at Spring Grove Cemetery.

in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Cincinnati Nature Center, 4949 Teal Town Rd., Milford, OH 45150