Gladys Mack
Gladys was born on Jan. 4, 1920 in Central Falls, RI, to Robert and Lillian Parr. After grade school the family moved on to Auburn, NY, where she graduated from Auburn High. Gladys went on to art school at New York University where she met her husband to be and many lifelong friends.
Her education was interrupted by WWII. In 1945 Gladys married Joseph Elias Mack, a captain in the United States Marine Corp. Joe then went back to school at Columbia University School of Architecture and Gladys helped make ends meet painting children’s portraits in Prospect Park near their apartment in Brooklyn. Gladys had a daughter, Pamela Ann in 1952, and made her family a full-time job. Fine art unfortunately took a back seat. The family moved out to Long Island to a town called Bayville in about 1954.
Gladys loved that town. She was active in the Bayville Village church for many years, starting and teaching in the preschool. Helping to design and construct the new and current Village Church on Mountain Avenue. She was especially instrumental in designing the beautiful stained glass window that graces the front facade. Gladys was an active member of the United Methodist Women, chairing wonderfully creative and successful bazaars and events. In the ’70s, she became church historian.
This interest in local history led Gladys to form and spearhead the Bayville Historical Society. Gladys served as the Bayville Village Historian from 1970 to 2000. Gladys was the proud founder of the Bayville Historical Museum. She worked tirelessly to mount successful exhibits and preserve local artifacts, photographs and oral histories. Gladys’ dedication to the town of Bayville was well recognized and her energy and attention to all details left a legacy to be admired.
Gladys was an avid collector. Her teddy bears number over 300. Her Santa Claus collection has over 600 catalogued pieces. She collected shells, stamps, coins, cloisonné and an impressive collection of ceramic hands.
Gladys suffered a stroke in 2000 and over the next few years lost most of her eyesight to macular degeneration. Gladys’ health continued to deteriorate and in 2006 she and Joe reluctantly left their beautiful home in Bayville for assisted living in Rockland, ME, to be nearby their daughter Pam. Gladys passed away on March 8, 2011 after a long struggle with Lewy Body dementia. Her husband Joe still lives in Rockland, ME. Gladys and Joe have been married 66 years. Pam Cabanas, daughter, lives in Friendship, ME, and her cherished grandson Eli Cabanas now resides in Astoria, Queens.
Gladys will be remembered, celebrated and missed by her family and dear friends. She will be remembered through her lasting work and her love for family and friends, her humor and tenacity.
A memorial service is being planned at the Bayville Village Hall complex to take place later in the spring.
