The Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” means “living and giving of yourself selflessly,” says Mary Slaven, who is retiring this month as secretary of the Rotary Club of Youngstown.
Mary said she joined RCY five years ago “to be part of this well-respected organization in need of someone with my professional experience.” Previously, she worked at Youngstown State University for 25 years, starting as a secretary. She advanced to administrative assistant in the Admissions Office, where she worked for 19 years.
Mary grew up in Youngstown, where she attended Woodrow Wilson High School and YSU. She and her husband, Harry, have made their home in Poland for 48 years. “We love the neighborhood here. We built our home on a quiet, serene, tree-lined street and raised our two sons (Harry and Patrick) here,” she said.
During retirement, Mary looks forward to spending more time with family. In addition to her husband and their sons and spouses, the circle includes her mother, Rosemarie, and grandchildren Caelan, Ali, Carly and Jay. Then there is Millie, her 3-year-old Labrador retriever mixed breed, “who loves to cuddle and play,” she said.
Mary has been working recently with Rebecca Mottram, the new RCY secretary. Look for Becky’s profile in an upcoming edition of The Clatter.
Asked if she had a story that she doesn’t tell often, Mary replied: “My middle name is Immaculate. Yes, Mary Immaculate. I was named after the Virgin Mary. Amen!”