Obituary of Mary Ann G Symonowicz

Mary Ann G. Symonowicz, 67, of Lawrenceville and Brielle, died December 30, 2009, at her home in Brielle, after a lengthy battle with leukemia. She was surrounded by her husband and son’s family. Born in Trenton, and daughter of the late John and Elizabeth (Hellmann) Gortatowski, she was the older of two siblings. Mary Ann was a graduate of Hamilton High West, Trenton State College and Rider College. She had completed the core course requirements at Rutgers University for her doctorate. Mary Ann received two masters degrees in education and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She had held every office of the Toastmistress Club. She was a devoted educator for thirty years having taught in various schools throughout the Trenton area. She was a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association and many other organizations. Mary Ann became a Supervisor for the Trenton Board of Education, and in this capacity, was an Instructional Delivery Specialist (Master Teacher). Then for several years she headed the Remedial Math Program for both public and parochial schools. She ran many educational workshops, seminars and was involved in numerous teacher conventions. With responsibilities for securing federal grants she was instrumental with getting many programs started. Up until her retirement she was developing a Pre-Kindergarten Program. Mary Ann had a great sense of humor that coincided with her determination to see things through. She was always caring of people and animals, and had a fondness for the arts, and watching figure skating on television. She enjoyed college football and was a Rutgers Scarlet Knights fan for more than twenty five years. She loved to read, sew and most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family at the Jersey Shore, especially with her granddaughters. She is survived by her husband Peter S. Symonowicz of Lawrenceville, son Peter J. Symonowicz and wife Carmina of Brielle, granddaughters Sophia Symonowicz and Natalie Symonowicz, brother and sister-in-law of Lawrenceville, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services for Mary Ann will be held on Saturday at 11 AM at Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville. Committal services will follow at the Ewing Crematory Chapel. Friends may call on Saturday at the funeral home from 9 AM until time of service at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in her memory may be donated to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, PO Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202 or to American Cancer Society, 3076 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 or to NJSPCA, 1119 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, NJ 08901.