Mary Anna Drayne

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 1942, Mary attended local schools before graduating in 1964 from the Newton College of the Sacred Heart in Newton, Massachusetts.

After college, Mary moved to New York City, where she spent her career working in news production for CBS, NBC, and PBS. In 1978, she won an Emmy Award for producing a 60 Minutes segment on the Boston Pops.

Mary’s Upper West Side apartment was filled with art and beautiful objects that she collected on her many travels. Her rich humor and sense of the absurd made her a delightful companion to her many friends and family members, with whom she enjoyed exploring far corners of New York City. But she was happiest at home with her beloved cats, Zephyr and Robin. She was passionate about politics and traveled several times back to her home state, Pennsylvania, to campaign for Barack Obama in his first presidential race. She joined with friends to plant flowers along her street, and she was an early volunteer with the NYC Cares coat drive.

Mary was predeceased by her parents, Mary Hulsman Drayne and Vincent Drayne, and brothers, Vincent Drayne and Richard Drayne. She is survived by nieces and nephew Karen Drayne, Elin Waterston, Michael Drayne, Elizabeth Brent, Katie Blount, and Susanna Drayne, and many great-nieces and nephews.

Mary will be buried with her parents in Pittsburgh, with a celebration of life to be held in New York City in January. Donations in her memory may be made to New York Cares newyorkcares.org.