Mary Reeve Marriott, at 52; was active in Boston's arts organizations

MARY REEVE MARRIOTT

Mary Reeve Marriott, who worked for Boston arts organizations, died Sept. 4 in her Waltham home after a 12-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. She was 52.

Ms. Marriott, known as Reeve, was born in Baltimore and grew up in Tampa, where she attended high school.

She moved to Massachusetts to attend Smith College and graduated in 1978 with a degree in French and art history.

During her junior year, she traveled to France to study and fell in love with the country, according to her sister, Cary Marriott of San Antonio.

She went on to work for the New England Conservatory of Music as an assistant to the chief executive officer. In 1989, she earned an MBA from Simmons College.

She then worked at Coopers & Lybrand as an accountant for two years before joining the Boston Lyric Opera as director of finance and administration.

"She wasn't an artist herself, but she liked being around people that were," her sister said.

She also enjoyed traveling, running, and fine food.

In 1996, when Ms. Marriott was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, her sister formed a caregivers group after reading a book on the subject. The group, which consisted of about 15 core members, dubbed themselves the Reevettes.

"It was a wonderful example of a social network that was created for the good of an individual who was in need of friends," said Andy Falender, a Reevette who was Ms. Marriott's boss at New England Conservatory of Music.

The group was launched to provide Ms. Marriot with anything she needed, but also served as a support system for her and her family.

"There was the practical side of the Reevettes, doing her grocery shopping and errands, getting her car tuned up, but there was also just being there for her," said her friend Cynthia Glott of Boston.

Friends and relatives said that no matter how sick Ms. Marriott got, she never stopped being a friend.

"She was a fantastic listener," her sister said. "You felt like she was caring for you, [not the] other way around."

As the disease progressed, Ms. Marriott needed medical aides to help in her house.

The Reevettes stepped in and raised money: They put together a concert in her honor, held yard sales, and sent out annual appeal letters.

But members of the group, who did so much for Ms. Marriott, say they received immeasurable benefits from her. "She taught me a lot about friendship, about being there and being present," Glott said.

In addition to her sister, Ms. Marriott leaves her mother, Florence (Nicky) Marriott of Tampa; another sister, Suzanne of Tampa; and a brother, Henry of Oxford, England.

A service will be held today at 11 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church in Newtonville.