Noreen McGuire Prettyman

Noreen McGuire Prettyman, PhD of Washington, DC and Ocean City, MD died on March 25, 2011 after a series of long illnesses, including sarcoidosis. She was 56 and is survived by her beloved husband, prominent District of Columbia attorney E. Barrett Prettyman, Jr. She was the cherished daughter of Gladys McGuire Bower of Washington Township, NJ, and the late James F. McGuire, former Mayor of Northvale, NJ, where Noreen was raised. She is also survived by three sisters and one brother: Kathleen (Theodore) Gershon of Princeton Junction, NJ; Nancy (Louis) Sheffler of Harrington Park, NJ; Louise (Thomas) Quinn of Sparta, NJ; and James (Stephen Coy) McGuire, Jr. of Boston, MA; two stepchildren, E. Barrett “Ty” (Mary) Prettyman III of Fairfax, VA and Jill Prettyman (Rainer) Lukoschek of Houston, TX; three step-grandsons, four nephews, two nieces, and six great nephews.

Noreen received her BS from The College of New Jersey, her Master of Education from Boston College, and her PhD from The American University. She held senior offices at the University of Delaware where she was Dean and at The American University before moving to George Mason University, where she was a member of the University Life Advisory Board until her untimely death. Her career at Mason spanned more than a decade. During this time she made a lasting impression on everyone with whom she interacted, holding several positions within University Life and the Office of the Provost, eventually becoming Executive Director of Student Academic Affairs and Director of the University Scholars program. The university recognized her achievements by naming the Dr. Noreen McGuire Prettyman Scholars Center in her honor.

Noreen was a mentor, teacher, motivator and lifelong learner who continued to be actively involved with the Mason community and volunteered her time and expertise in various capacities. Throughout her tenure at Mason she found great joy in seeing students grow and develop, and the University established the Phoenix Award in her honor to recognize a rising Mason professional who exhibits this same quality, as well as the many other traits Noreen embodied in all that she did each day.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Dr. Noreen McGuire Prettyman Scholars Center at George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030, or The Washington Home Hospice, 3720 Upton Street NW, Washington, DC 20016.

The family will receive visitors at the Joseph Gawler’s Sons Funeral Home, 5130 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC on Sunday, March 27 from 2-4 and 7-9PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Monday, March 28, 2011 at 11AM at The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 3630 Quesada St., NW, Washington, DC followed by interment at Rockville Cemetery, Baltimore Road, Rockville, MD. A memorial mass will also be held at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 11:00AM.

Arrangements entrusted to Joseph Gawler's Sons Inc., Washington, DC.