Stillwater, NY - Mary Lynn passed away on February 23, 2021 after a number of years struggling with Fronto-Temporal Lobar Degeneration, among the various forms of dementia.

Mary Constance Lynn, was born December 16, 1943 in Schenectady, daughter of the late Lambert Henry Lynn and Harriet Katherine Hausser. The family moved to Solvay, NY where Mary's father was a General Electric engineer, and she graduated from Solvay schools.  She is a graduate of Elmira College and attended the University of Rochester for graduate study on a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and, was awarded a PhD in History in 1975. Mary joined Skidmore College in 1969, first as an Instructor in History. She then was associated with the University Without Walls program, before joining the American Studies Department, where she served as Department Chair, Douglas Chair in American Culture and taught a generation of students. Mary absolutely loved Skidmore and loved her life in the classroom teaching students. She was completely fulfilled by the academic live and felt rewarded by engaging with students every day. She was frequently rewarded by returning graduates who appeared at her office door and spent time catching up and sharing how important Skidmore was in shaping their lives.

In 1995 at the request of then Dean Phyllis Roth, Mary began the research for a history of Skidmore College. The task consumed five years of consultation and research before Make No Small Plans was published. During that effort her search into the college archives, along with interviews with former college officials, deepened her love for Skidmore and all associated with the school. After a day immersed in old reports, letters, photos, meeting minutes she would return home energized by what she had found. Her writing of Skidmore's history became a labor of love. After publication of the college history in 2000, Mary then traveled to meet with alumni groups around the country and connected with Skidmore alumni who revealed much about their individual college experiences. Based on these and other conversations, as well as research in the years following the publication of Make No Small Plans, Mary had planned to prepare an update to the college history in retirement. She retired in 2013.

Mary was an avid gardener and could recognize and name most wildflowers. She enjoyed the brightness of the song and color of our seasonal songbirds while taking country walks at the Saratoga Battlefield, or hikes in the Adirondacks, the mountains and trails of Mt. Desert Island Maine, and Cape Cod seashore. She enjoyed cross country skiing in the Adirondacks, Vermont and New Hampshire. Best of all she enjoyed her books, or, more correctly it seemed she loved the printed word as she read both scholarly texts as well as mysteries, science fiction and the daily newspapers. An active member of the Presbyterian-New England Congregational Church, she enjoyed singing in the choir, served as elder, participated in the annual Women in the Woods program and upon occasion was invited to the pulpit to discuss some of her research on the changing roles of women in America, religion in America, and seventeenth century America and the Puritans.

Mary is survived by her husband David Clark, of Stillwater, two daughters, Katherine Amoroso (Luke) of Kirksville, MO, and grandchildren Lucy Amoroso and Delia Amoroso; daughter Emily Clark and husband Michael Robinson, of Mount Ranier, MD, a sister, Jane Ito (Yoshiko) of East Dennis, MA, and their daughter, Margaret Ito of Saugus, MA, and two beloved close cousins, Doris Hausser, of Washington, DC and Barbara Roberts of Chicago, IL.

The family offers a huge thank you to the truly remarkable loving and caring staff of Ensign Point, at Schuyler Ridge Nursing Home in Clifton Park who eased Mary's passage over the past five years, as well as Community Hospice.

Services will be private at the convenience of the family.

Memorial gifts may be made in Mary's name to Skidmore College or The Presbyterian/New England Congregational Church of Saratoga Springs.

Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes of 628 North Broadway (518-584-5373).

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.