SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX019
ARLX019 Past ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH (SK)
ZCZC AX19
QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 19 ARLX019
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT December 16, 2021
To all radio amateurs
SB SPCL ARL ARLX019
ARLX019 Past ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH (SK)
Former ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, of
Ardmore, Pennsylvania, died on December 12. An ARRL member, she was
78.
From the time she arrived at ARRL Headquarters, Mary served
enthusiastically as ARRL's Chief Development Officer, developing
relationships that helped to grow the ARRL Endowment. One individual
she invited into the ARRL fold of regular supporters was Joe Walsh,
WB6ACU, of the Eagles.
Born in Washington, DC, she attended the National Cathedral School,
for which she maintained a lifelong fondness. She spent her summers
playing tennis before heading off to Northwestern University in
Chicago. After school, she moved to Philadelphia to raise her two
sons as a single mother while working in non-profit development -
notably at the Philadelphia Zoo, WHYY, and NJN.
After her boys graduated from college, Mary moved to New England to
work in development at Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) and then
at ARRL. During her 13 years at ARRL Headquarters, she was behind
the creation of The Diamond Club, The Diamond Terrace, The Maxim
Society, and the Second Century Campaign, among other initiatives.
She served as secretary of the ARRL Foundation, and promoter of the
ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund.
"During Hurricane Katrina, she virtually single-handedly created the
Ham Aid Program that provides new gear to amateurs who have lost
their equipment in disasters," then-ARRL Chief Operating Officer
Harold Kramer, WJ1B, said in the August 2014 issue of QST. "Because
of her efforts and those of her staff, she has raised millions of
dollars for ARRL and, ultimately, for the benefit of Amateur Radio."
She also was one of the founders of the successful Teachers
Institutes for Wireless Technology. Funded by voluntary
contributions, the annual summer workshops help to better acquaint
classroom teachers and educators with wireless technology and the
science behind it.
Outside of work, she was an enthusiastic gardener, an avid rower,
and a huge fan and booster for University of Connecticut Women's
Basketball. She retired from ARRL in 2014, moving back to the
Philadelphia area to be closer to family.
Mary was an active member of St. George's Episcopal Church in
Ardmore, where a funeral mass will be said on January 8 at 10 AM.
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