1923 – 2015

AUBURN — Mary Briggs Kendall died peacefully at her beloved Brookside Farm in Auburn.

Born in Augusta, the daughter of Henry and May Briggs, Mary spent her childhood in Augusta and her college years at Boston University’s Sargent College. A longtime lover of outdoor sports and athletics, Mary was voted the outstanding female athlete in her graduating class of Cony High School and completed her college degree with a major in modern dance. Her early employment was at the Mary C. Wheeler School in Providence, R.I., as a dance teacher. She was soon married to her high school sweetheart, Richard Kendall, and together they raised eight children.

Her local involvements included trustee of the Washburn-Norlands Living History Museum, seven years as a teacher in the Auburn public school system; a founding member of Women’s Hospital Association, a founding member of the Lost Valley ski school program where she established the children’s after-school program. She was an avid dancer, equestrian and holder of multiple state and New England championship titles in women’s tennis. There were few sports she didn’t love and almost none she hadn’t tried.

She will be long remembered for her boundless energy, her love of children and family, her open and cheerful good nature and her deep, kindhearted, joyful love of life.

She was predeceased by her loving husband, Richard Kendall; and is survived by her many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, who will miss her indomitable spirit.

Copy the Story Link