DRP 2013 Environmental Hero: Mary Scanlan
At the Friends 2013 Annual Meeting, the Friends of the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge presented the organization’s first annual David Ross Palmer Environmental Hero Award, for outstanding service to the Refuge and Conservation efforts, to Mary M. Scanlan of Mashpee.
Originally from Boston, Mary worked as a clinical social worker in New York and Connecticut, before moving to the Cape in 1956, where she dedicated her time to Human and Environmental advocacy. Ms. Scanlan was an original member of the Friends organization, who first served as a biological inventory volunteer, then as Membership Director and, in 2004 as Treasurer for nine years. She was ardently responsible for providing crucial support during this time in maintaining the groups nonprofit status and in being the “glue” that held the group together.
Ms. Scanlan was also very active in the Mashpee community, serving on the Town’s Beautification Committee for 10 years and with the local Habitat for Humanity chapter for 17 years as a family partner and member on the Board of Directors; she received the “Spirit of Service Volunteer” Award by the chapter in 2016. She was the Treasurer for the Mashpee Conservation Corps for 18 years and as a member of the Town’s Human Services Committee for 13 years.
For over 20 years, Mary was adamantly and thoughtfully involved in the Mashpee Community and participated in many key roles to preserve and improve local conservation purposes. We thank her for the many years of dedication, leadership roles and friendship.