Obituary for Mary Jo Lynch
Ann Arbor, MI- Age 80, passed away on February 26, 2020 at Glacier Hills Senior Living Community. She is survived by three siblings: Michael (Lisa) of Atlanta, GA; Nora (Mark Rubin) of Ann Arbor, and Gulfport, FL; and Patty (Tom Cavallo) of Pittsfield Township, MI. She is also survived by five nieces and nephews and many loving cousins and friends.
Mary Jo was born in Detroit, MI, and attended St. Theresa grade school and high school. She received a BA from Marygrove College, an AMLS degree from the University of Michigan, and an MA in English from the University of Detroit. Mary Jo served as reference librarian at the University of Detroit from 1962-1969, and at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) from 1969-1971. She was an assistant professor in the School of Library Science at the University of Michigan from 1971-1973. From 1973-1976 she attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey where she received a PhD in Library Science.
From 1976-2003, Mary Jo worked at the American Library Association (ALA) in Chicago, IL, where she served as Director of the ALA Office for Research and Statistics. An authority in the area of library statistics and the author of more than 80 professional articles, she was a major force in the establishment of the Federal-State Cooperative System for Public Library Data and directed the ALA Survey of Librarian Salaries. She was a leader in the library profession and in 1994 she received the Distinguished Alumna of the Year Award from the Rutgers School of Communication, and Information and Library Studies.
Mary Jo loved Chicago but following her retirement she came home to Michigan to be closer to her family and friends. She chose to live at the Glacier Hills Senior Living Community in Ann Arbor and was always happy with that decision. For many years she was co-editor of the resident newsletter, The Lark. Her main duty for the newsletter was obtaining and editing biographies of new residents. She made an effort to meet all new residents and enjoyed connecting them with other residents who had similar interests or backgrounds. For many years, she organized and hosted the Friday night programs in the Hanson Room. This involved identifying, inviting and introducing musical groups and educational speakers. She was also part of a group of residents who managed the Glacier Hills Library and for many years served as a resident member of the Board of Directors of the Glacier Hills Foundation.
Mary Jo lived a full, happy and productive life in spite of many challenges resulting from her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis at the age of 24. She loved books and by using Google expertly she continued to act as a “reference librarian” for her friends at Glacier Hills. Her sister Patty liked to tell people that Mary Jo had been a “human Google” in her early professional life as a reference librarian.”
Her family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Eleanor Sun, Dr. David Irani, Dr. Edmund Chadd and Mr. Scott Filion (University of Michigan Wheel Chair Seating Services) for caring for Mary Jo since her move to Ann Arbor. They would also like to thank the staff at Glacier Hills for their exceptional care and friendship as well as the caregivers from Senior Helpers who gently helped Mary Jo face her progressing disability.
Gifts in memory of Mary Jo Lynch may be directed to the Glacier Hills Foundation at 1200 Earhart Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society P.O. Box 4594, New York, NY, 10163-4594.
Funeral services will be private. Condolences may be sent to Nie Funeral Home www.niefuneralhomes.com. A memorial service will be scheduled soon at Glacier Hills.
Mary Jo was born in Detroit, MI, and attended St. Theresa grade school and high school. She received a BA from Marygrove College, an AMLS degree from the University of Michigan, and an MA in English from the University of Detroit. Mary Jo served as reference librarian at the University of Detroit from 1962-1969, and at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) from 1969-1971. She was an assistant professor in the School of Library Science at the University of Michigan from 1971-1973. From 1973-1976 she attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey where she received a PhD in Library Science.
From 1976-2003, Mary Jo worked at the American Library Association (ALA) in Chicago, IL, where she served as Director of the ALA Office for Research and Statistics. An authority in the area of library statistics and the author of more than 80 professional articles, she was a major force in the establishment of the Federal-State Cooperative System for Public Library Data and directed the ALA Survey of Librarian Salaries. She was a leader in the library profession and in 1994 she received the Distinguished Alumna of the Year Award from the Rutgers School of Communication, and Information and Library Studies.
Mary Jo loved Chicago but following her retirement she came home to Michigan to be closer to her family and friends. She chose to live at the Glacier Hills Senior Living Community in Ann Arbor and was always happy with that decision. For many years she was co-editor of the resident newsletter, The Lark. Her main duty for the newsletter was obtaining and editing biographies of new residents. She made an effort to meet all new residents and enjoyed connecting them with other residents who had similar interests or backgrounds. For many years, she organized and hosted the Friday night programs in the Hanson Room. This involved identifying, inviting and introducing musical groups and educational speakers. She was also part of a group of residents who managed the Glacier Hills Library and for many years served as a resident member of the Board of Directors of the Glacier Hills Foundation.
Mary Jo lived a full, happy and productive life in spite of many challenges resulting from her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis at the age of 24. She loved books and by using Google expertly she continued to act as a “reference librarian” for her friends at Glacier Hills. Her sister Patty liked to tell people that Mary Jo had been a “human Google” in her early professional life as a reference librarian.”
Her family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Eleanor Sun, Dr. David Irani, Dr. Edmund Chadd and Mr. Scott Filion (University of Michigan Wheel Chair Seating Services) for caring for Mary Jo since her move to Ann Arbor. They would also like to thank the staff at Glacier Hills for their exceptional care and friendship as well as the caregivers from Senior Helpers who gently helped Mary Jo face her progressing disability.
Gifts in memory of Mary Jo Lynch may be directed to the Glacier Hills Foundation at 1200 Earhart Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society P.O. Box 4594, New York, NY, 10163-4594.
Funeral services will be private. Condolences may be sent to Nie Funeral Home www.niefuneralhomes.com. A memorial service will be scheduled soon at Glacier Hills.