Mary Beth McCormack
1957 – 2009

HARPSWELL — Mary Beth McCormack, 52, of Harpswell Neck Road, passed away at home with family at her side early Tuesday, Dec. 29, after a long battle with cancer.

She was born in Manhattan, N.Y., May 9, 1957, and raised by her parents, Michael and Dorothy Dowd Cuskelly, as well as a maternal aunt, Lillian “Bunny” Dowd. After attending Saint Bernard’s School in Levittown, N.Y., she graduated from Brewer High School in 1973 in Brewer. She attended the University of Maine, Farmington, obtaining her speech correction and elementary education degree.

On June 27, 1981, she married David L. McCormack in Brewer and made their home in Harpswell. The McCormack family vacationed annually at Keoka Beach Campground in Waterford, where they were surrounded by family and close friends who came to be like family.

She worked as a speech therapist in the Holden and Lisbon schools, prior to becoming a Title 1 teacher at Lisbon Community School . She also operated a candle business for a number of years, as a representative for Mia Bella’s Candle Co.

She had served as an ombudsman for military spouses for a number of years, while her husband was in the U.S. Navy.

She was an accomplished writer of stories and poetry and had her poem “Sneaker Sale” published online by Woman’s Day Magazine. She also enjoyed singing in the Royal River Chorus for a number of years.

In 1984, she founded the local chapter of Mother of Twins and later found that she was a third generation twin herself. In 2004, she and her brother, Michael were reunited with her biological mother, Dolores Metchick of Schenectady, N.Y., with whom she maintained a relationship thereafter.

She was a communicant of All Saints Parish, St. Charles Borromeo Church and an member of the National and Maine Teachers Association.

Surviving are her husband of 28 years, David L. McCormack; two daughters, Erin M. McCormack of Brunswick and Kaitlyn T. McCormack of Harpswell; a son, Jonathan P. McCormack of Brunswick; her biological mother, Dolores Metchick and her husband, David, of Schenectady, N.Y.; two brothers, her twin, Michael Scott Cuskelly and his wife, Mary, of Bucksport and John Cuskelly and his wife, Carie, of Brewer; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, Michael and Dorothy Cuskelly; as well as her aunt, Lillian “Bunny” Dowd.