LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Mary E. Dumas, distin-
guished 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 E. Dumas of Albany, New York, died on Saturday, August
21, 2010, at the age of 76; and
WHEREAS, Affectionately known as Maureen or Mo, Mary E. Dumas was born
in Albany, the oldest child of the late Charles and Ellen MacGowan; and
WHEREAS, Maureen E. Dumas' commitment to excellence, and her spirit of
humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including charita-
ble and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, This outstanding woman was fond of saying she had many lives:
one life was her family; one life was theater; another was political;
yet another was anti-poverty and community action; and
WHEREAS, She was actively involved in the Albany Civic Theater (ACT)
throughout the 1960s and 1970s, beginning with its days on Beaver Street
and continuing through the acquisition and outfitting of the current
theater on Second Avenue; and
WHEREAS, With her good friend, the late Nick Toscino, Maureen E. Dumas
did the makeup for the Legislative Correspondents Association (LCA) Show
from 1971 through 2005; and
WHEREAS, In 1977, she was named to the Private Industry Council by
former Mayor Erastus Corning II; in 1980, she ran for New York State
Senate against Senator Howard Nolan; she lost, but by the slimmest
margin that Senator Nolan ever held against a challenger; and
WHEREAS, In 1983, Maureen E. Dumas was named by Senate Majority Leader
Warren B. Anderson to the Community Services Block Grant Management
Plan's Advisory Council, a program that reviewed applications for
government funding for such programs for the poor as health services,
nutrition, and housing and employment; a position which she held for
more than 20 years; and
WHEREAS, In 1986, she was awarded the YWCA's Tribute to Women Award;
at the time of the award, Maureen was the president of the National
Association of Community Action Agency Board of Directors and provided
leadership for the Albany County Head Start Program, Albany County
Opportunity, Inc., the New York State Department of State Policy Advi-
sory Committee for Weatherization, and was involved with local implemen-
tation of the Job Training Partnership Act - Private Industry Council;
and
WHEREAS, She was actively involved in the Irish Perceptions Series
through the Albany Chapter of the Irish American Cultural Institute, of
which she was a founding member, the Albany City Arts Office, and Centro
Civico Hispano-Americano; and
WHEREAS, In 1987, Mary E. Dumas helped to bring the Festival of
Nations to the area; in 1988, she organized the Governor Thomas Dongan
Feis, an Irish dance festival that she continued to run and worked with
for many years; and
WHEREAS, In 1996, Mary E. Dumas received the Maude Gonne MacBride
Award from the New York State Irish Northern Aid Committee for her work
in bringing Irish culture to the area; and
WHEREAS, The following year, she received the Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. "Keeper of the Dream" Award from the EOC/CEDS of Nassau County for
her Outstanding Commitment and Contributions to Empowering Individuals,
Families and Communities through Community Action in New York State; as

part of this award, she was given a bronze bust of Dr. King which was
displayed proudly in her home; and
WHEREAS, Mary E. Dumas was a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of
Hibernians, JFK Division No. 1 for many years, and a member and past
president of the Albany Kiwanis; and
WHEREAS, Maureen E. Dumas distinguished herself in her profession and
by her sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of
her community; and
WHEREAS, In 1993, Mary E. Dumas retired from the New York State Senate
where she worked for nearly 40 years; she started in the steno pool and
worked for Senate Majority Leader Earl W. Brydges, Senate Majority Lead-
er Warren B. Anderson, and Senator Joseph Pisani, among others, ending
her career working in Constituent Relations; and
WHEREAS, Following her retirement, she volunteered at her good friend
Father Peter Young's Altamont Program, serving on the board of direc-
tors; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by her husband, Eugene Dumas, her two brothers,
Francis (Patricia) MacGowan and Charles (Barbara) MacGowan, and one
sister, Elizabeth (Joseph) Zappone, Mary E. Dumas is survived by her
three children, Ellen (Michael) Porcari, Jean (Robert) Pelton, and Paul
(Linda) Dumas; her grandchildren, Steven Magee, Bryan Magee, Mary Beth
(Mark) Ketzer, Annie Dumas, and Paul Dumas Jr.; two great-grandchildren,
Bryan Magee Jr. and Helen Ketzer; one sister, Patricia (William) Cohen;
her special cousin and friend, Lee Smith; and her nieces and nephews,
Keith (Kate) Cohen, Gina (Kenneth) Szesznat, Christine (Christopher)
Lenahan, Joseph (Paula) Zappone Jr., Elizabeth Zappone, Charles MacGowan
IV, and Rosalie MacGowan; as well as a dozen more great-nieces and neph-
ews, and many more relatives and friends; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit, imbued with a sense of
compassion, and comforted by a loving family, Maureen E. Dumas 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 E. Dumas, distinguished citizen and devoted
member of her community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Mary E. Dumas.