Mary Ellen Taft Whitcomb

Peacefully passed away on August 6, 2023. Beloved mother of Jon, Kevin (Trish) and Michael (Jamie). Proud grandmother of eight grandchildren, Kristina, Maggie, Thomas, Connor, Sean, Denis, Colleen and Mary Kathryn; two great grandchildren, Bailey and Wallace; and one great great granddaughter, Alaia.

Mary Ellen was born in 1939 to Walter and Marion Taft of Chevy Chase, MD. She attended St. Ann’s Elementary, Holy Cross Academy, St. Joseph College and graduated from Immaculata Junior College (1959) and Montgomery Col-lege (1972). She began working at Gonzaga College High School (1981) and remained there for twenty years, rising to the position of Director of Retreats. She was especially involved with the growth and spread of the KAIROS Retreat.

In addition, Mary Ellen founded Support Builds Strength (SBS) running discussion groups for over 38 years for young people and their parents. Over the years Mary Ellen has touched countless lives as a coach, mentor, advocate, second-mom, supporter and friend. Visitation will start at 10 a.m., Eulogies at 11:30 a.m. and Mass at 12 p.m. on August 15, 2023, at St. Aloysius Church, 19 I St. NW, Washington, DC. In lieu of flowers, gifts to Gonzaga’s Mary Ellen Whitcomb Endowed Scholarship fund are welcome through www.gonzaga.org/support-gonzaga/make-a-gift or by check.