Mary Louise (Huffman) Dollase Obituary (1926

Mary Louise Huffman Dollase of Monroe Township, New Jersey formerly of Frankfort, Kentucky passed away on February 29, two days shy of her 94th birthday. Born in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of Louise F. and William F. Huffman, founder and publisher of "The Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune" and of radio stations WFHR-AM and WWRW-FM. Her parents imbued her with the importance of advancing civic welfare and having the courage to take stands for truth and justice, as were reflected in the reporting and editorial content of the newspaper. Mary's own interests in journalism and current events never wavered from her earliest years. She had a genuine respect for the beliefs, backgrounds and abilities of all individuals and prided herself on treating everyone with the same regard that she showed the governors, senators, business leaders and national figures who dined at the family table. In addition to their communication concerns, the Huffmans owned a horse farm, a Christmas tree farm, and a cranberry marsh in Biron, Wisconsin, which also served as the family's summer home. The stunning beauty of these unique ecosystems set along the Wisconsin River, combined with her love for the people and places of her nearby hometown of Wisconsin Rapids, drew Mary and her own family back every summer and instilled in her a love of the outdoors and the importance of protecting the natural world. Mary's early years were characterized by an athleticism and a certain derring-do that provided amusing reminiscences in later years, but were the source of some consternation at the time. Perhaps the most audacious example was her walking the concrete railing of a 491 foot bridge spanning the Wisconsin River on a dare when she was barely six years old. Her interests in riding, swimming, tennis and golf were natural extensions of her happiness in the outdoors. In adult life, Mary accrued a proliferation of trophies for various golfing feats at the Maketewah and Frankfort Country Clubs. She never stopped challenging herself with daily exercise routines and was even featured on the cover of the fitness-center brochure for her senior community. A 1944 graduate of Lincoln High School, Mary's strong academic record and her numerous leadership positions in journalism, theatre, choir and sports foretold life-long involvements. Two years at the all-women's Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri were empowering, and she commented in the 1970's that the students were feminists well before they knew the term. While a Journalism student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Mary met her future husband of 55 years, Robert (Bob) Dollase, a personable and musical Engineering and Geology major from Watertown, Wisconsin who had just returned from serving in the Pacific Theater. Mary's connection with her Delta Delta Delta sorority continued for many decades, and she held alumni positions both locally and at the state level. Her well-received work as an editor on the University student newspaper led to Mary's own column in the "Madison State Journal" upon graduation. "Shopping with Mary in Madison" became so popular, it soon took up half a page. In future years, local newspapers were relieved when she was in charge of organizations' communications. Editors were spared from having to send their reporters to cover meetings and events, because Mary would write up the stories for them. With a move to Rockford, Illinois and the birth of her first child, Mary left professional life and entered the world of volunteering. Though naturally shy and very nervous when speaking before groups, she felt it was her civic duty to push out of her comfort zone and assume responsibilities within community organizations. When budget cuts threatened her daughter's Spanish classes in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mary became one of the founders and then President of the city-wide group, Foreign Language for Elementary Students and successfully convinced the school board of the benefits of those programs. Presidencies of several PTA's soon followed as well as numerous event chairmanships. Her daughters' Brownie and Girl Scout troops were never without a Leader. During Mary's almost 40 years in Frankfort, she taught Sunday school at the First Presbyterian Church long enough to watch a second generation of students come through her classroom door. Even though she was insecure about the quality of her singing voice, she joined the church choir later in life because "they needed sopranos." She served for over three decades on the Franklin County Community Council. In support of local non-profits, Mary donated 100% of the ticket proceeds from historical tours of Frankfort that she researched, wrote and conducted. Mary was a voracious reader with a particular curiosity about how people lived in different times and cultures. She traveled extensively to research various ancestors who had come over on the Mayflower, crossed the Delaware with George Washington and traveled West to found towns on the Frontier. She was an officer--and often Regent or President--of several lineage-based organizations including the Daughters of the American Revolution, the National Society of New England Women, the Dames of the Court of Honor and the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century. Bob's ownership and management of several companies meant multiple moves throughout their marriage. Mary approached each with a sense of adventure and fun. Together they enjoyed sports, bridge, entertaining and travel--especially to visit family and their favorite Florida Keys and to see their son perform in Broadway plays. Three years after Bob's death, Mary moved to New Jersey to be closer to her children Bette Jane (Kevin) Booth of Princeton, NJ; David James (Hanne) Dollase of Rockaway Township, NJ; Catharine Jean Dollase of Easthampton, MA; and beloved grandchildren James, Brian, Emma and Daniel, all of whom survive her. She is also survived by Bob's youngest sister Carol (Eugene) Schultz and numerous nieces and nephews, whose relationships she treasured. Her darling granddaughter Elizabeth Jane Dollase predeceased her, as did her brother William F. Huffman, Jr. At Mary's request, funeral services and burial are private. Those who share Mary's interest in the welfare of young people may remember her by making a donation to the children's charity of their choice.