Mary Therese Sidman

Mary Therese (Mato) Sidman passed away on March 19, 2026, at the age of 82. Mary was born on March 6, 1944, in Cleveland, Ohio, the oldest child of Charles and Theresa (Turk) Mato, both of whom have predeceased her.

Mary is survived by her spouse of 58 years Robert Sidman, her daughter Christa (James) Channels of Columbus, Ohio, her daughter Alicia (Janko) Boehme and grandsons Oliver Boehme and Fritz Boehme of Madison, Wisconsin. She is also survived by her twin sisters, Charlene (Charles) Baker of Gates Mills, Ohio and Charlotte (John) Schild of Fishers, Indiana, as well as many nieces, nephews and their families.

Mary was raised in the Cleveland suburb of South Euclid, Ohio and she was a 1962 graduate of Beaumont School for Girls and then a 1966 graduate of Notre Dame College in South Euclid where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, majoring in French and English. Mary later received her Master of Arts, cum laude, in Educational Administration from Ohio State University. Mary also attended Manhattan College in the Bronx, NY, studying French language education.

Mary and Bob were married in Cleveland in 1967 and welcomed their 2 daughters into the world soon after moving to Columbus in 1968. After spending several years raising her 2 daughters, Mary resumed her teaching career by becoming a Special Education teacher at Worthington High School and Worthing Way Middle School. Mary was then hired by Ohio State University to be the Education Services Director at Ohio State University Medical Center, Department of Adolescent Psychiatry. Mary's last employment was with The Ohio Department of Youth Services as Assistant Superintendent of Buckeye United Schools.

Mary's devotion to students with special needs fit perfectly with her outgoing personality and her belief that all children deserved the best guidance from their parents and teachers.

Mary also spent much time devoted to giving back to her community. Among those activities were Board Member and past-President of The Columbus Literacy Council, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Literacy Network, Adjunct Professor at Ohio State University College of Medicine, and numerous other causes in the juvenile justice arena.

Mary was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother but she was also a loyal friend to everyone who knew her. She never turned down a chance to bring joy and comfort to her friends (all of whom were her "best" friends) and soul sisters. Need a volunteer - count on Mary, need a shoulder to cry on - count on Mary, need someone to plan a party-count on Mary. The gifts she gave were free because she genuinely loved everyone. And at the end of her remarkable Life she had one more gift to give. After many weeks of sickness and declining health Mary bravely chose to enter hospice care and avoid the difficult choice that her family would have to make. We love you Mary.

Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1 PM on Sunday, March 29, 2026 at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST, 1740 Zollinger Road, Upper Arlington, Ohio 43221, where a visitation will follow from 2-4 PM.

Mary’s family would like to thank the many caregivers who supported her. The family would like to suggest memorial contributions to Life Care Alliance (Meals on Wheels) at https://www.lifecarealliance.org/donate/