Mary Kay Mastronardy Stratis

On May 19, 2025, Mary Kay Mastronardy Stratis exchanged faith for sight and entered the arms of her Savior. A long‑time resident of Montvale, New Jersey, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend to many. Mary Kay’s decades of service rooted in her unwavering Christian faith touched thousands of lives across education, athletics, philanthropy, and compassionate ministry.

Born in Greenville, SC, on January 2, 1948, Mary Kay moved with her parents, Leona and Eugene Mastronardy, and younger brother, Joseph, to Jersey City, NJ, as a child. She excelled in school, and later enrolled at Fairleigh Dickinson University at the age of 17. There, she met her college sweetheart and future husband, Elia G. Stratis, during freshman registration in 1965. She immersed herself in campus life and serving the FDU community as she earned a B.A. in secondary education (1969) and an M.A.T. (1971). Her education led to her career as a high-school mathematics teacher until choosing to stay home with their three children, Lia, Christopher, and Sonia.

Mary Kay and Elia married in 1969, settled in Montvale, NJ, and spent summers traveling the world as Elia built a pioneering forensic-accounting career. Together they built a life and family culture marked by generosity, hospitality, service, and love. Mary Kay and Elia opened their home to family, students, athletes, and visitors from across the globe. In the early 1980s, they expanded the Stratis family to include Caiphus Vilakazi and Elliott Bikani, two student track athletes from South Africa who had been living in undesirable conditions. Mary Kay and Elia became their guardians and welcomed them into their family during Caiphus’ high school years and provided both of them the opportunity to obtain their college degrees.

Mary Kay supported her children’s academics, as well as their creative and athletic pursuits - cheering them to black belts, multiple national titles, and numerous U.S. international team berths. She loved to travel, experiencing different cultures and meeting people from around the world. She visited countries on all 7 continents and shared that joy of traveling with her family and close friends.

On December 21, 1988 Elia was killed in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. Mary Kay’s searing loss of her “rock” and the love of her life became a calling to carry on his legacy. “What would Elia do?” she would ask, moving forward “one half-day at a time” by faith and prayer as she raised their three children and lovingly guided the development of their faith, interests, and talents. She once said, “My faith was shaken but not broken, and I’m okay with not having all the answers in this life.” For her family and for so many others, the grace, strength, faith, and courage that she embodied became an inspirational example. In 2013, she testified to that journey in a TEDx talk that continues to comfort survivors of tragedy. “Never throw away your bad experiences,” she said, “They’re part of your portfolio—you may use them to help somebody else.”

Mary Kay’s compassion and proactive thoughtfulness overflowed into countless ministries and causes:

+Fairleigh Dickinson University – Named Trustee Emerita after serving for 16 consecutive years on the Board of Trustees and numerous committees

+Founded the Elia G. Stratis Scholarship (1989) for accounting majors and track athletes, and the Mary Kay Stratis Scholarship for aspiring female math teachers

+Funded the Stratis Lounge, Elia G. Stratis Running Track, and Stratis Arena

+Endowed the first coaching chair in the Northeast Conference – the Elia G. Stratis Head Coach of Cross-Country/Track & Field (2023)

+Served as Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. Board member, chair, and tireless advocate for families of the victims

+Strong advocate of the VPA 103 Legacy Fund, supporting scholars in aviation security and anti-terrorism

+ “Wednesday Ladies”

+In 2001, following the 9/11 attacks, Mary Kay and her dear friend and fellow widow, Mary Lou Ciulla, opened their homes weekly for a support circle for 9/11 widows, modeling the hands and feet of Christ for 9/11 families.

+The ARC of Bergen & Passaic Counties

+Long-time trustee and champion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, driven by her love and tireless care for her brother, Joe.

+Served as Church Sunday-school teacher, youth-group coordinator, and mentor in faith for friends and generations of children

+Served as Pascack Hills Parent Faculty Association Board president, serving the students and families of the high school while collaborating with administrators and faculty

She served many people and organizations offering leadership, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to pour her full effort into everything that she did. “Whatever I have done and whatever I will do, I’m going to give everything I have. That’s how Elia lived his life and that has been passed on to my children.”

Her alma mater recognized her impact in many ways, awarding her with:

+Pinnacle Award (1999) which recognizes “contributions and achievements of Fairleigh Dickinson University's most distinguished alumni”

+Athletics Hall of Fame (2004) for her support of the athletic department, advocacy for student athletes as a Trustee, and member of the Athletic Advisory Council

+Heritage Hall (2015) which honors “special individuals who played significant roles in defining the present and the future of Fairleigh Dickinson University”

+Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (2017) for her life of courage, faith, action and decades of service to the University.

Mary Kay and Elia are the only two individuals in the history of the Fairleigh Dickinson University to be recognized in the very exclusive trifecta of Heritage Hall, the FDU Athletic Hall of Fame, and FDU's Pinnacle Award. In 2015, the USA Karate Federation inducted them into it's Hall of Fame for their years of uniquely distinguished service.

Mary Kay is survived by her children and their spouses, Lia & John Clark, Christopher & Jennifer Stratis, and Sonia & Chris Tedeschi; eleven adored grandchildren—Mia, Asher, Joli, Eli, Joshua, Faith, Lucian, Kyah, Giovanni, Elijah, and Cassian; her brother Joseph Mastronardy; and her sister and brother in-law Julie & Jack Van Houten; dear friends Mary Lou Ciulla and Armen Khachaturian; and her many beloved cousins. She was predeceased by and is now reunited with her husband Elia G. Stratis and her parents Leona & Eugene Mastronardy.

She held two hymns among her favorites: “Great is Thy faithfulness,” and “Because He Lives”. Their lyrics, which she cherished, give insight into her faith, inspiration, and source of love for all of us, and in turn provide hope for us as we face the future:

“Great is thy faithfulness, Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed thy hand hast provided; Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.”

“And then one day, I'll cross the river, I'll fight life's final war with pain;

And then, as death gives way to victory, I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!”

Her guidance, generosity, compassion, wisdom, love, tenacity, resilience, consistency, warmth, and unwavering willingness to serve have blessed three generations and set a legacy we are proud to carry forward.

+Visitation (Wake): Thursday, May 29, at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Rd, Westwood, NJ 07675, from 2–4 pm and 7–9 pm.

+Funeral Service & Celebration of Life: Friday, May 30, 11AM at Montvale Evangelical Free Church, 141 W Grand Ave, Montvale, NJ 07645.

+Interment: A short service to follow at George Washington Memorial Cemetery, 234 Paramus Rd, Paramus, NJ 07652.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to:

+ VPA 103 Legacy Fund – Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc., P.O. Box 404, New York, NY 10108 (memo: “Legacy Fund”)

+The ARC of Bergen & Passaic Counties – 223 Moore St., Hackensack, NJ 07601 or Arcbp.com/what_you_can_do/donate_today.html

+Mary Kay Stratis Scholarship – c/o Delia G. Perez, Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1000 River Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666 (memo: “Mary Kay Stratis Scholarship”) or online at connect.fdu.edu/givenow