Mary Elizabeth Lamo-Putnam
1959-2024
 |
Mary Elizabeth Lamo-Putnam passed away with family and friends by her side on January 11, 2024. Mary was born in Hartford, Connecticut and moved to Long Beach in 1967, attending local schools and graduating from CSULB. She began her 30+ year career in Information Technology in 1982 enjoying a career that was both exciting and ever-changing.
Mary led a fulfilling, adventurous and meaningful life. She was enthusiastic and purposeful in her decisions. Mary was a lifelong advocate for education, literacy, and effective, action-based leadership. She supported small businesses and non-profit organizations whenever possible. She embraced local and global initiatives including feeding the Ukrainian war victims and soldiers through World Central Kitchen (wck.org). Mary rallied her friends to support a 2022 fundraiser for the WCK by writing, “They serve up more good in the world everyday than evil could ever dish out. They have hearts filled with respect for humanity. They take on big challenges with soul warming solutions!” She volunteered regularly with the City of Signal Hill and the Signal Hill Police Department in addition to participating in the annual Signal Hill/Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count. Mary believed that identifying people in need helps bring vital community resources to where they’re needed most.
Mary dedicated countless hours of volunteer time to literacy in Long Beach. In addition to her leadership roles on the Library Foundation’s Grape Expectations Fundraising Committee she was Director Emeritus for the Long Beach Library Foundation. She actively participated in the Library of the Future Committee whose mission is to research ways technology can ensure relevancy in libraries. Mary served as VP of Programs, Liaison to the Friends of the Long Beach Public Library and joined the Grand Literacy Committee and Librarian Appreciation Committee. She was always one of the first board members to volunteer at community outreach events such as Dictionary Days and the ACO7 Literacy Fair. She was a contributing member of the Carnegie49 Club memorializing her husband’s name and legacy.
Mary joined AAUW-Long Beach branch in 2014. Its mission is to advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. She was past chair of the AAUW STEM Career Conference hosting hundreds of eighth grade girls in Title 1 schools in Work Smart Workshops co-hosted by the Junior League of Long Beach. She received the AAUW Connie Inskeep Leadership Award for her decade long leadership. In 2019, The City of Signal Hill Community Services Department honored Mary for her unwavering commitment and dedication to the city and the community with the Ashleigh Williams-Pearce Spirit Award.
As a 22-year long member of the Jr. League of Long Beach (JLLB), Mary served in numerous leadership capacities including founding the Annual Leadership Forum, bringing volunteers together to learn and bond, as well as leading the effort to produce the very successful JLLB Cookbook-Celebrating 90 Years of Life, Community and Cooking. In 2022, Mary received the JLLB’s highest honor, the prestigious Helen D. Newcomb Award. The award recognizes a member who embodies the organizations mission to promote volunteerism, develop the potential of women and improve the community through effective action and leadership of training volunteers. Other recognitions include the Women’s Symposium of Southern California (WSSC) 2020 Purple Diamond VIP Award, a non-profit focused on educating women in wealth management. Mary served as President of her University Park Estates Neighborhood Association for six years, bringing together her community with seasonal events, newsletters, and new homeowner welcoming gifts, volunteered with Food Finders and always participated in the MemorialCare Team Spirit 5K walk. Mary’s presence set a successful tone for all her community events throughout the year. Her team approach, pure heart and kindness were infectious.
Mary’s philosophy was “live a life with purpose, be grateful, accept love, grow from challenges, and respect others. Also, a good road trip is the best cure for just about anything!” She spent the past few years, when not volunteering, traveling, visiting with family and friends, and caring for Peanut Butter and Raisin, her fur-babies.
In 2020, Mary was diagnosed with a rare lung disease. For her birthday, she launched a fundraising campaign to help the research continue and give hope to those suffering. Her request stated, “I realize this time of the year you are receiving many requests for donations to many very worthwhile causes. I would ask a few minutes of your time, yes, it’s a request for a donation, but it is very personal to me and my fellow ROS1ders.” She continued by listing all the needed resources that directly impacted advocacy, research, and awareness.
Mary’s friends knew her as the quintessential volunteer. Always asking how she could help, usually steadfastly from behind the scenes, happily doing so with her IT skills. She found positive ways to encourage others to go above and beyond what they thought they were capable of. She made those near her want to be better people, strive to do more, be strong leaders, members, volunteers, and humans. Mary will be remembered for her fierce advocacy for women and girls, for equality through literacy and for justice. She has left a profound, indelible mark on everything and everyone she touched.
Mary was the much-loved wife of the late Russell Putnam, whom she was married to for 17 years before his passing in 2016. She leaves behind many family members and special friends. A celebration of life and the opportunity to share memories is planned for Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 1-4pm at the Storey’s home in Long Beach (please send email below for address).
The family suggests, with gratitude, that donations in her memory be made to Ros1ders (ROS1+ lung cancer research) or a charity of your choice.
Please click here to post your memories of Mary.
If you’d like to e-mail a special message to the family or to request celebration of life information, please click here. |
