Mary (Bernard) Leuba

Obituary

Class of 1944

1927 – Mar. 24, 2007

Mary (Bernard) Leuba

RALEIGH – Mary B. Leuba, 80, died on March 24, 2007, from injuries sustained in a fall last Thursday.

Mary Leuba was raised on a farm, near Weiser, Idaho, and was valedictorian of her high school graduating class.

Mrs. Leuba has been a resident of Raleigh since 1973 when she moved here with her husband and children.

She first worked as a social worker with the Juvenile Court, under the leadership of Judge George Bason. Her work with disadvantaged youth led to her becoming a founding official of Partners of Wake County, where she was the senior counselor until her retirement, December 1991.

Mrs. Leuba earned degrees from Antioch College (BA 1950) and the University of California-Berkeley (MSW 1960), and in 1990 was nominated by the YWCA Academy of Women for Recognition of Outstanding Achievement and Contributions to the Community.

Since her college days, Mrs. Leuba has been a steadfast member of the Society of Friends, and has regularly attended the Raleigh Friends Meeting.

She traveled in all 50 states and toured Europe, Egypt, parts of Central and South America, Mexico, Canada, and New Zealand. With cycling groups, she bicycled in Cuba, from Raleigh to Ohio, across Iowa, in four countries in Africa, and the full length of England-plus-Scotland. She trekked in Nepal, and at the age of 72, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. Her active life necessarily slowed down following a series of strokes in recent years.

Mary Leuba enjoyed a large circle of friends, and over the years, delighted in co-hosting many happy parties. She made a significant moral/social impact on the community. Her interactions with so many others have been positive, lasting, and widespread.

Mrs. Leuba is survived by Richard Leuba, her husband of 56 years; her brother, James Bernard of Captain Cook, Hawaii; her sons, James F. Leuba of Fort Langley, BC, and Sanford H. Leuba of Pittsburgh; and daughters, Suzanne L. Mealy of Knightdale, and Valerie L. Quade of Los Angeles. She had 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A memorial event is planned for later in the spring in Raleigh.

From The News and Observer – Raleigh, North Carolina · Monday, March 26, 2007