Mary Elizabeth Gast

Of Forest Hills, age 101, died peacefully, at home, in the arms of her son, Rob, on Wednesday, January 26, 2022.
Mary was the beloved wife of Robert C. Gast for 63 years and the loving mother of Robert B. Gast.
She is also survived by her brother John (Jean) George of Mechanicsburg and she was preceded in death by her brothers, James (late Betty) George and Austin (late Ruth) George, Jr.
Mary was raised in Shadyside, the daughter of Austin and Mary (McCartney) George. She attended Peabody High School and graduated from Winchester Thurston. Mary attended Wellesley College in MA, transferred, and then graduated from Goucher College in Baltimore.
Mary was hired at Alcoa to work in the mail room and eventually worked her way to becoming the executive secretary to the Chairman of the Board, I.W. Wilson. Her 17-year career at Alcoa ended in 1958 when she married Bob and became a homemaker and later, a mother of Rob. She volunteered for years at Jane Holmes Residence, a nursing home in Swissvale. Mary loved music and singing and was a member of the choir at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. In recent years, Mary was a member and enthusiastic singer at St. Andrew Episcopal Church in Highland Park. Mary was a very patriotic woman and had been an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) and the Daughters of the American Colonists. For over 30 years, Mary also volunteered for her community as she helped arrange and organize the Car Cruise for the Forest Hills Community Day.
Mary, her husband, Bob, and her son, Rob, have shared their common interest for sailing as a family. That joint passion led to their combined venture of building their own sailboat in their back yard. Their 28-foot sailboat, "Mary Elizabeth", has yet to be launched but has been viewed by hundreds of neighbors, curious folks and preschoolers. Mary's husband, Bob, has been the designer and engineer on the family boat-building project while she and her son, Rob, have provided the labor, with Mary mixing and stirring by hand the 120 gallons of resin needed for the hull of the sailboat.
There will not be a formal service, but the family will welcome guests at a Memorial Gathering on Saturday, February 5 from 1-3pm in the church hall of St. Andrew Episcopal Church, 5801 Hampton St., Pittsburgh, PA 15206.
Mary's cremated remains will be laid to rest in both Homewood Cemetery and St. Andrew's memorial garden.
Arrangements with Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., East Pittsburgh, 412-824-8800