Meet paul & Mary

​Paul & Mary, from Orange Village, joined Advent in 2007, transferring in from Garfield Memorial Methodist Church in Pepper Pike. Paul taught science for many years at Lake Catholic, and Mary taught art in Maple Heights for 35 years. She spent her years divided between the high school and the elementary school levels. Both local folks, Paul graduated from Euclid High School in 1970 and Kent State in 1974; Mary is a 1970 Chagrin Falls grad and a 1974 Kent State grad. (That is when you could get a college degree in four years.) They met at Faith Lutheran in Kent, and were married there on April 10, 1976. They were each 23 years old.
Paul & Mary have 2 sons: Matthew, married to Sara, who practices Medicine in Miami Florida, and son Christopher, who lives in Athens Ohio.
Paul has been working at the Giant Eagle Market District in Solon for the last five years. On Tuesdays he hikes with a senior hiking club. They go all over northeast Ohio Emerald Necklace Metro parks system as well as our beloved Cuyahoga Valley National Park. A typical hike is 3.5-5 miles. Photography is his first love. These hikes allow him to document the beauty and wonder in northeast Ohio. His love of the outdoors was shared with Troop 309 for many years. After his kids earned Eagle Scout, he continued on as a leader and assistant leader for many years. Wood working and of course home repairs fill out any remaining time. Mary was active in cub scouts when the boys were young. She handed over the reins to Paul when they entered middle school. She also taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school as well as being an active worker bee for Kids Club. Her interests include art, crafts and gardening. She has been focused on making face masks for the last six months, sending them to family, friends and the Navajo Nation. Ronald McDonald House is the new beneficiary of her current production of masks. Mary is the much-appreciated provider and maintainer of the plants at Advent.
Both are active members in Lander Circle Kiwanis, ‘Making the World Better One Child at a Time.’ Paul has also served on the Word & Sacrament board for many years, and sings bass in the choir, and Mary plays in the adult bell choir.
They believe Advent is a wonderful community that makes their life fuller.