Mary T. Walsh

Dr. Mary T. Walsh of Pittsburgh, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. Daughter of the late John and Mary Walsh; preceded in death by her brothers, Hugh (Son), Coleman (Bud), John (Jack), and her sisters Ann "Maggie", and Barbara. Survived by her sisters, Cathy "Toots" T. Walsh and Eleanor (Ralph) Zecchino. Mary was also adored and loved by her 11 nieces and nephews, 21 great-nieces and nephews, and 1 great-great nephew. Mary began her career with the Pittsburgh Public Schools as a Science and Math teacher at Knoxville Jr. High. She sponsored an extensive Field Trip Program in Environmental Sciences and developed an accelerated science curriculum in cooperation with the University of Pittsburgh's National Science Foundation Program. She was invited by the Board of Education to become a key leader in planning, developing, and implementing a city wide program for academically talented students. This program became the Pittsburgh Scholars Program. Mary co-directed a five year curriculum in the Project Fine Arts funded by USOE at CMU which became an integral part of the Scholars Program. She also consulted with the staff of the U.S. Commissioner of Education to develop Gifted Education Volumes 1 and 2 which became a primary Gifted Reference. The Super Bowl of Problem Solving was initiated by Mary and became a prototype for other problem solving activities. She remained as Director of the P.S.P. for 18 years before becoming the Administrator for the Middle School Scholars Program, and later became the Principal of Banksville Middle Gifted Center. In addition to being a Rhodes Scholar, Mary was President of the Pittsburgh Council and National Council of Administrative Women in Education. As President of NCAWE, she participated in the Elena Piscopia Tertiary at the University of Padua in Italy and presented the Piscopia biography to the White House Library. Mary represented NCAWE at the Teacher in Space Institute at Cape Canaveral, and in 1999 at the PAGE Conference in Harrisburg, received an award recognizing her leadership in Gifted Education. With all of her accomplishments and contributions in the field of education, Mary was so much more to those of us who were blessed enough to have her in our lives. Although her travels took her around the world, she was always there for her family and friends in times of need. Mary had the kindest heart, and loving soul, and will be deeply missed by all of those who knew and loved her.