Senate Resolution No. 1383

BY: Senator RYAN

MOURNING the death of Mary Ann Kresse,
distinguished citizen, and devoted member of her
community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Mary Ann Kresse of Buffalo, New York died on June 6, 2023,
at the age of 84; and

WHEREAS, Born in 1938 in Gardenville, New York to Dr. Lawrence and
Margaret Miano, Mary Ann Kresse was the oldest of eight children and
attended Fourteen Holy Helpers Church and School; she graduated high
school as valedictorian from Saint Mary's Seminary in Buffalo in 1955;
and

WHEREAS, She attended Ladycliff College in Highland Falls, NY on an
academic scholarship where she was a math major, senior class president
and valedictorian upon her graduation in 1959; Mary Ann Kresse went on
to earn an MS in Computer Science from Fordham University and began her
professional career as a computer systems designer at Univac and then
Honeywell; and

WHEREAS, Mary Ann Kresse married her beloved husband, Bob Kresse in
1964; the two were married for 56 years until the occasion of his
passing in 2020; and

WHEREAS, The mother of eight children and 20 grandchildren, Mary Ann
Kresse found family to be one of the most prized possessions in life,
expressing her love through personalized letters, care packages, treats,
and hugs and kisses; and

WHEREAS, Mary Ann Kresse distinguished herself in her profession and
by her sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of
her community; and

WHEREAS, Most recently she served on the boards of the Buffalo
Botanical Gardens, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo Maritime Center, served
as Board President of the Buffalo Heritage Carousel, and also served
with the King Urban Life Center and WNY Heritage Press; in the past, she
held leadership positions on the boards of Buffalo Museum of Science,
Service Collaborative, O'Connell & Co, UB Center for the Arts,
Kleinhan's Music Hall and National Garden Festival/Garden Walk Buffalo;
and

WHEREAS, Mary Ann Kresse was also chair/co-chair of major capital
campaigns for Mercy Hospital, Buffalo Museum of Science, Forest Lawn and
Buffalo Botanical Gardens; further, she was a longtime member of the
Junior League of Buffalo, serving as president from 1981-1982; and

WHEREAS, From 1999-2004, Mary Ann Kresse worked as an
AmeriCorps/Vista program manager; and

WHEREAS, Since 2005, Bob and Mary Ann Kresse found a special
spiritual home in the parishioners and architecture of Blessed Trinity
Parish in Buffalo, where Mary Ann was a lector and eucharistic minister;
and

WHEREAS, Mary Ann Kresse's commitment to excellence, and her spirit
of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including
charitable and civic endeavors; and

WHEREAS, Mary Ann Kresse is survived by her children, Joseph, Mary
Katherine, Ann, Claire, William, Andrew, Bartholomew, and Thaddeus; and

WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Mary Ann Kresse leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
she served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Mary Ann Kresse, distinguished citizen, and devoted
member of her community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Mary Ann Kresse.