Mary Lavis Carlson

Mary Lavis Carlson passed away peacefully on August 23, 2025, at the age of 94. Born July 4th, 1931, in Scranton, PA to Helen and Paul Lavis, Mary was a firecracker in every sense of the word. She was one of seven children who left PA to live with her Aunt Mary Reardon in Brooklyn to attend high school at Fontbonne Hall Academy. She became an avid New Yorker, attending Columbia University before working in advertising at Lynn Baker and television production for The Price is Right

Mary married Frank Carlson, the love of her life, in 1962 and they raised three daughters in Ridgewood, New Jersey. They were true partners, cofounding General Business Services and investing in vacation properties throughout the years, which in turn propelled Mary to become a licensed real estate broker.

It wasn’t until she turned 60 that she pursued her true passion and earned a nursing degree from NYU’s accelerated program. Mary found her calling when she worked at Episcopal Social Services, supporting the health needs of children and young adults in foster care, many of whom had physical and emotional disabilities.

She carried her healthcare training to the American Museum of Natural History where she volunteered from 1994 to 2020 and was recognized with the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award for her work with the Museum’s Accessibility Programs where she tailored her tours in a unique way that brought the museum to life for the disabled and the blind. She was an accomplished docent who treasured the opportunity to engage young minds, especially her grandchildren when she led their class field trip tours.

Mary was an amateur astronomer and served as President of the NYC Amateur Astronomers Association. She loved to gaze up at the sky with her naked eye or through the lens of a telescope alongside fellow astronomers at the annual Stellafane Convention. She marveled at the galaxies and never stopped wondering what more we could learn from the universe.

Mary’s zest for life, feisty personality, and thirst for learning, at any age, may be her greatest legacy to her children, grandchildren and all who knew her.

She will finally reunite with Frank, her beloved husband of 38 years, who predeceased her. Mary is survived by her dear sister Eleanor Gordon, brother Robert Lavis and her children; Carolyn Fessler (Bob), Cathy Spaulding (Chris) and Susan Griffo (Bill). She is cherished by her eight grandchildren: Shelby Spaulding, Jacob Spaulding, Ryan Fessler, Andrew Fessler, Clayten Spaulding, Jack Fessler, Sophia Griffo and Julia Griffo.

Visitation will be held at the Walter Cooke Funeral Home, Manhattan from 4 to 8pm on Monday September 1st. Mass funeral services will be held at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in Manhattan on Tuesday September 2nd at 10am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Museum of Natural History (https://www.amnh.org/join-support/donate), where Mary volunteered for many years.