MARY HAAS

HAAS--Mary McKinley, age 92, of Dallas, TX, died peacefully on October 20, 2022 at her home. A native of St. Louis, MO, she attended Smith College where she received a BA in Theatre. She subsequently moved to Manhattan where she would spend the next six decades: first as a costume designer primarily in theatre and television, and then as a painter. She designed over ten Broadway shows and served as an assistant designer on many more, including Hello Dolly and Carnival. She headed the Costume Design department at ABC for five years, where she worked on productions including Dark Shadows. Over the ensuing years, her passion for sketching costume designs would take her in a new direction - drawing and painting. She studied at the Art Students League in the 1970's, where she was mentored by the great Norman Lewis. She created mostly large abstract oil paintings on canvas, inspired by the forms and colors she encountered on her frequent nature walks near her home on eastern Long Island, and on visits to Hawaii and throughout the desert Southwest. She participated in many solo and group exhibitions in New York, around the nation, and overseas. She was married to the love of her life, Saul Haas, from 1961 until his death in 2011, and is survived by their sons Christopher and Matthew, grandsons Owen and Grant, and numerous extended family and friends. A memorial service will be held in the spring. Donations may be made to Women in the Arts Foundation.