Spotlight on Mary Thompson -Sunrise Rotary in Saddlebrooke | Community

The little engine that could—also known as Mary Thompson—has been quietly chugging uphill and moving mountains her entire life. A founding member of SaddleBrooke Sunrise Rotary in 2014, Mary was born in Rochester, New York, in 1941, where winter builds character and grit comes standard.

The eldest of two children, Mary grew up in a small apartment with big love. Money was tight—her father worked as a probation officer and her mother in social services—but family ties were strong and weekends were spent visiting both sets of grandparents on nearby farms. These trips meant pitching in, getting muddy, and learning early that hard work was just part of the deal. A particularly strong influence was her maternal grandmother, a true powerhouse of productivity who clearly passed on the family’s legendary work ethic.

Mary began her education in a local Catholic school, where her curiosity and intellect were welcomed and encouraged—she loved it. At age 14, financial pressures forced a transfer to a public high school, which proved to be… let’s say, not her favorite chapter. Undeterred, the little engine went straight to the Catholic school administration and negotiated her way back, arranging installment payments for tuition. She funded her education with babysitting money, library jobs, summer camps, and playground supervision—essentially running a small employment agency before she could drive.

After high school, Mary attended Nazareth University for two years, majoring in sociology. She married, moved to Arizona, welcomed her first two children, and completed her degree in 1963. A move to California followed, where her husband accepted a position as an English professor and their third child was born.

Soon after, the marriage ended, and Mary returned to Rochester with three young children and a determination that would not be denied. She worked two jobs—waitressing by day and serving as a night ward clerk at a hospital—to support her family. Sleep was optional; perseverance was not.

In 1970, Mary entered her chosen field as a preschool teacher focusing on mental health training, educating paraprofessionals to identify children needing additional support. While working at the East Side Community Center assisting seniors, she discovered a skill that would change everything: grant writing. This newfound superpower opened doors to stability, impact, and upward mobility.

Her second marriage ended in 1977, but in 1978 she met the love of her life, John Thompson. Their courtship was long-distance and took place during one of the busiest periods of Mary’s life—she was writing grants, briefly owned an unfinished furniture store aptly named “Naked Furniture,” leading a Girl Scout troop, raising teenagers, and earning her Master’s degree at night. (Sleep again remained optional.)

Mary and John married in 1984, sold the furniture store, she completed her Master’s degree, and moved to Utah. There, Mary accepted a position with the YMCA running a day care center, and by 1985 her grant-writing career was in full stride. She worked with numerous state and federal agencies, including:

• Housing Authority Association (1985–87, 1993–95)
• Utah Community Health (1987–89)
• Health Department, Children’s Special Health Care Services (1989–93)

In 1995, Mary was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. Following treatment at the University of Utah and continued care in New Hampshire, she eventually retired in 2004—though “retired” is used loosely when describing Mary.

In 2003, Mary and John purchased a home in SaddleBrooke, and in 2010 she joined the local Rotary club. True to form, she helped found SaddleBrooke Sunrise Rotary in 2014, a nontraditional club focused on hands-on service, particularly in the Copper Corridor communities.

In 2023, Mary returned to Rochester to be closer to family and to oversee a charity she and John established to help at-risk teenagers complete their education—because apparently changing lives once just isn’t enough. In January of 2026, Mary and John passed the torch of running the charity to their granddaughter and moved back to Saddlebrooke.

Mary Thompson’s story is one of resilience, service, and quiet determination. The little engine didn’t just make it up the hill—she built the track behind her and made sure others could follow.