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Mary Stuart Steinle ’71

October 20, 2021, in Portland.

Mary grew up number six in a poor family of eight during the Great Depression. At the age of 17, she was recruited for the war effort by Alcoa Aluminum in Portland. She married, had four children, got divorced, and earned a bachelor’s degree in  business administration from Portland State University. She came to Reed, where her sister, Carolyn Russell ’66, was an alum, and earned a master’s degree in teaching.

Mary taught business for years in Estacada, Gladstone, and Corbett high schools, and was department head at Corbett. After retiring from teaching, she worked part time as a public relations officer for the school district and was a substitute teacher. She became a licensed tax preparer and did tax returns, taught creative writing classes through Mt. Hood Community College, and led workshops on memoir writing. In 1972, she married Arthur Steinle, with whom she shared many adventures, including hiking, skiing, and traveling. They spent winters at their home in Yuma, Arizona. Preceded in death by Arthur and by her daughter, Barbara, she is survived by her son, Charles Brenton Jr.; daughters, Rebecca Brenton and Beverly Brenton; and stepchildren, Robert Steinle, Anne Steinle, and Linda Steinle.

Appeared in Reed magazine: March 2022

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