Mary B. Doyle

Mary Blaskovich Doyle died peacefully on Thursday, August 23, 2018 at her home, Vinson Hall Retirement Community in McLean, VA. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, September 7, 2018 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (prayer service at 7:15 p.m.) at Murphy’s Funeral Home, 1102 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA. A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at Saint Luke’s Catholic Church, 7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA, followed by a private interment.

Mary was born to Apollonia Kruzich and Jakov Blaskovich on March 23, 1923 in Dallas County, Iowa. She grew up in Slater, Iowa and as a teenager, traveled on her own to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts and Central City, Colorado for summer employment. After high cchool, she was awarded an athletic scholarship to the American Institute of Business in Ames, Iowa. Mary traveled throughout the Midwest playing guard for the women’s basketball team while earning her business degree. She and her teammates were invited to represent the United States in the Women’s Track and Field competition at the 1944 Olympic Games, but the Games were cancelled due to the War. Mary volunteered to join the United States Navy, W.A.V.E.S during World War II, serving in San Diego, California from 1944 to 1946. She attended the University of Iowa on the GI Bill. After graduation, she worked for the Ohio Catholic Charities Association and the Ohio State University where she met and married Frederick J. Doyle, a professor of engineering. In 1960, they moved their family to Northern Virginia, and together traveled the world with Fred’s professional associations, making lifelong friends across five continents.

Mary loved raising her children, and watching her grandchildren grow into young adults. She was a self-described “people person” who brought sunshine everywhere she went. A devout Catholic, she was active in her church and community throughout her life, forming many close friendships along the way. She was known for her hospitality, her warm, welcoming spirit, and her tremendous faith. Her many activities included the Catholic Choral Youth Group, the Newman Club, the Red Cross Nurses Aid, Saint John’s Women’s Club, Saint John’s PTA, Teams of Our Lady, Cursillo, the McLean Women’s Club Chorale, and the McLean Citizens’ Association. After losing her husband of 58 years, Mary moved to Vinson Hall. She thoroughly embraced all aspects of the community there and was genuinely happy in her new home.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Fred, her brothers Andy, Fred, Eddie, Bill, Gene, her sisters Emma and Violet. She will be greatly missed by her children and their spouses, Frederick Jr. (Janet), Margaret Grant (Jeff), Mary Ellen Slattery (Ken), George (Laura), her grandchildren Peter, Matt, Claire, Julia, Lucas, Tommy, Katherine, Emma, Allison, Kristen, and everyone who knew her and experienced her love.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mary’s memory to So Others Might Eat (SOME), in Washington, D.C., www.some.org (direct link below).