Mary M. Robotti, born Mary Mathilda Ammann on New Year’s Day in 1923, passed peacefully on Feb. 11, 2021, at home surrounded by her family. Mary, daughter of Swiss immigrant parents Joseph Ammann and Agnes Ochsner Ammann, was born in Albany, WI, a baby sister for two older brothers. Within a few months, the family traveled by immigration train (half for family members, half for livestock and belongings) to their newly-purchased farm in Cazenovia. She walked 1 1/2 miles each way to a one room primary schoolhouse and, later, 1 1/2 miles to get to a high school bus. She planned to attend Morrisville State division of Cornell to study nutrition, but withdrew her application as the family had limited funds and she needed to work.
For the war effort, Mary was “Rosie the Riveter” in a defense plant for Curtis Wright airplanes in Syracuse where she introduced herself to a handsome inspector, Edward Robotti, with a well-aimed snowball to the back of his head. After their marriage in 1945, the farm girl from Upstate New York found herself living as part of a multigenerational family in an immigrant neighborhood in New York City. An excellent cook to start, Mary refined and enhanced her skills in the kitchen of her Italian-speaking grandmother-in-law and learned the family recipes – especially for brown sauce – yum!
Her life became full of wonderful accomplishments and experiences – a wonderful husband and partner, four children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and extensive travel, first with Lions International to Tokyo, Hong Kong, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro. Among the many other places that Mary and Ed visited were South America, Russia, extensively across Europe, New Zealand, Chiang Mai Thailand, Tenerife and Alaska. Ed was the planner, but Mary executed the plan.
After launching her four children, Mary joined Ed at the Edward B. Robotti Insurance Agency – a business established by Ed in 1954. Mary was also involved in the Ravenswood Lions Club and she was the first president of the Lioness Auxiliary Club in 1985. Through her volunteerism with the Lions, Mary raised funds to sponsor guide dogs for the blind, worked in a soup kitchen at Ground Zero after 9/11, hosted holiday parties for Hour Children, supported the Variety and Boys and Girls Club and ran numerous blood drives. Mary and Ed’s commitment to resources for the blind was in direct response to the sight challenges faced by Ed, which they overcame together.
Mary understood how much she was blessed and often reflected on the absolute great fortune she had. The love and support of her family was life affirming and energizing to her. Mary’s story is one of great love, great joys, great accomplishments – it is a celebration of human life. All of us who have had the pleasure of her friendship and love are the better for it. We who knew her best know that our lives are blessed and we take up the mantle to continue to pass on our help and love to those in our lives as Mary did for us. Mary was a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother who had a full life of 98 years and will be greatly missed by all.
Mary was predeceased by Edward in 2011, her soulmate and husband of 66 years and her daughter, Barbara Robotti Murray in 2009. Mary also leaves a rich living legacy including her daughter Jacqueline (Sarah Witbeck) of Niskayuna, N.Y., sons Robert (Suzanne) of Manhattan and Lawrence (Adriana) of Staten Island, N.Y., son-in-law Edward Murray of Scotia, N.Y., grandchildren Pamela, Stephanie, Jocelyn, Jessica, Danielle, Amanda, Brittany and Daniel, great-grandchildren Hayden, Avery, Amelia, Sloane and Anthony as well as many nieces and nephews.
Memorial service and a celebration of Mary’s life will be held at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be sent to Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind Inc. in Smithtown, N.Y. – guidedog.org; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – stjude.org or a charity of your choice.
