Mary Manning Wasmer

As a young girl, Mary enjoyed riding horses at their farm. In high school she relished working as a Soda Jerk at Manning Dairy. After High School she attended Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio.

In 1944, Mary married John C. Wasmer, Jr., “Jack”, the love of her life. Most of Mary’s time was dedicated to raising their seven children, but she always found time for her other pursuits. A wonderful singer, tennis player, golfer, and gardener, Mary was always in motion and always engaged in one activity or another. Inquisitive and confident, Mary dove into new experiences and was famous for her written notes of encouragement and commentary.

Mary had a strong love of art and a passion for design. She was an avid collector of fine arts and antique furniture and had her own design firm, Mary Wasmer Interiors, as well as a partnership in Halstead House Antiques. She started The Gallery Group in Rocky River, Ohio which offered organized artist talks in private homes and went on to support artists in the community. She supported the building of the Beck Center of the Arts in Lakewood, Ohio and she served on the board of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The family established the Florence O’Donnell Wasmer Gallery on the campus of Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio, from which Mary and Jack received honorary doctorates from the university in 2002.

A Naples, Florida resident and visitor since the 1950’s, the Wasmers moved to Naples full-time in 1986. In Naples, Mary served on the original acquisition committee for the permanent art collection for the Loos Gallery at the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples. She was honored by the Harmon Meek Gallery for her support of the arts with their Visionaries of the Visual Arts Award. The Bower School of Music & the Arts at Florida Gulf Coast University houses the Wasmer Art Gallery in honor of Mary and the Wasmer family’s support of the visual arts program.

Mary was dedicated to the support of children and catholic education. Mary championed events for the Cleveland Christ Child Society and Cleveland based inner city schools. In Naples Mary continued her work with Saint Ann Catholic Church and the Saint Ann School Foundation for several decades. Mary Wasmer co-founded the Foundation fundraising fashion shows and was an honorary chair of the Foundation galas.

Art patron, philanthropist, style icon, and supporter of children’s education, Mary was a force of nature with a great sense of humor and sparkling blue eyes. She was loved by all, and will be greatly missed.

Mary is survived by her Children: Barbara Wasmer, Ocala, FL., Beth Wasmer (Sandy Wilson), Grand Lake, CO., Ellen Wasmer Brackett, Naples, FL., John Wasmer (Katherine Schuett), Naples, FL., Martin Wasmer (Melanie MacPhee), Naples, FL., Julie Wasmer (Melissa Foree), Corvallis, OR., and Sara Wasmer, Naples, FL.

Also survived by 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren: Rob Wasmer Kiss, Joe Wasmer (Sarah) and their daughter Audrey, Julia Brackett (Michael Dix) and their sons William and James, Audra Brackett, Maggie Bell (Justin) and their sons Henry and Jack, Emily Heller (Luke) and their daughter Elizabeth, William Schuett, Finnian Wasmer, MacAulay Wasmer, Maeve Wasmer, Jonah Wasmer-Foree, Emma Wasmer-Foree, and Megan Wasmer Coan (Tim), Michael Wasmer, and Miles Bakley.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband of over 60 years, Jack Wasmer, her parents Edward and Ellen Manning, her sisters Lucy Maley and June Grant, and her son-in-law Gary Brackett.

Friends and family will be received at Saint Ann Catholic Church at 475 9th Ave. South, Naples, FL 34102 on Friday December 16, 2022, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place in Naples on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at 10:30 am at Saint Ann Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary's memory may be made to Wasmer Art Gallery at Florida Gulf Coast University, St. Ann School Foundation, or Angel Fund through the Collier Community Foundation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hodgesfhatnaplesmg.com for the Wasmer family.