1921
Andrew
2014
Andrew Mason
May 21, 1921 — July 19, 2014
Andrew W. Mason, a resident of Mt. Airy for 56 years, died on Saturday, July 19, 2014 peacefully at the age of 93. He is predeceased by his loving wife Grace Baldwin Mason who died in 2012, and survived by 3 sons Michael (Judy), Gregg (Christine) and Brian (Juda); 9 grandchildren Nicole, Michelle, Michael, Drew, Gregory, Margot, Helen, Jacob and Nicholas; 3 great-grandchildren Andrew, Natasha and Lucy. A native of Richmond, VA, he is survived by his brother Willie and predeceased by his brother Frank.
Known to everyone as Andy, he was born in Richmond, VA to George and Annie Sverchek Mason, immigrants from Russia and Yugoslavia. After high school, Andy worked at Crawford Manufacturing Co., a textile and seat cover making factory in Richmond. It was there that his boss suggested he go to college and he began taking evening courses, one of them being Public Speaking. Andy enlisted in the U.S. Army in August, 1942. There he put his speaking skills to work leading marching and drilling tactics. He became a non-commissioned sergeant responsible for assessment, classification and assignment of troops during WW II where he served until February, 1946. During that time, on his first furlough, he married his high school sweetheart Grace Elizabeth Baldwin on May 29, 1943. Determined to go to college after the war, Andy took advantage of the G.I. Bill and entered the University of Richmond in 1946, completing his 4-year degree in just 3 years. He then went on to get his Master’s Degree in Modern Languages at the University of Wisconsin in 1950 and took additional French courses at Middlebury College in Vermont.
Andy began his teaching career as a French teacher in 1950 at Westminster High School in Westminster, MD where he also taught Latin and Spanish. He then became principal at neighboring Taneytown High School from 1954-1958 before moving to Mt. Airy in 1958 to become principal of both the Mt. Airy Elementary and High Schools. After only one year in Mt. Airy, he was promoted to Supervisor of Special Education for the Maryland State Department of Education. During his 31 year career at the state, he held other positions including the State Supervisor of High Schools and Regional Coordinator for Western Maryland and later the Maryland Eastern Shore. He also led a big project called Project BASIC which was a state-wide program to get back to emphasizing the 3 basics of reading, writing and arithmetic in the school curriculums. Andy became well known over the entire state of Maryland and was active in the Maryland as well as National Associations for Secondary School Principals (MASSP and NASSP). The MASSP’s annual golf tournament at the spring conference bears his name, as he hosted that tournament for many years. Andy was a popular public speaker at events and conventions for many organizations and later became the coordinator for the American Legion Maryland State Oratorical Contest. He took pride in having two national winners from Maryland in 1992 and 1998. One of his greatest joys was being the commencement speaker at his oldest son Michael’s graduation from South Carroll High School in 1970 and he continued his public speaking long after he retired in 1990.
Although his main love was in education, Andy was also very involved in community service. A member of the Mt. Airy Kiwanis Club for over 50 years, he served twice as president and one year as the Capital District Division 9 Lieutenant Governor. He also started the Key Club at the new South Carroll High School shortly after it opened in 1967. He spearheaded a project which in 1965 established the first library in Mt. Airy, located on the 3rd floor of the now historic Flat Iron building which also housed the Mt. Airy Town Hall at that time. Andy headed the Mt. Airy Planning and Zoning Commission from 1966-1986 and was very active in American Legion Gold Star Post 191 serving as Post Commander in 1985-86.
An avid tennis player and golfer, Andy had a love for baseball and after coaching his two younger sons in little league and pony league, he became the manager of Post 191’s first American Legion baseball team in 1973. Andy was active in St. Michael’s Catholic Church for over 50 years as well as the Boy Scouts, with his middle son Gregg becoming an Eagle Scout in 1971. A consummate educator and family man, Andy took pride in raising his 3 sons and seeing them graduate from college and go on to successful careers and raise families of their own. But he also constantly reminded people that none of his successes or that of his boys would have been possible without the support of Grace, his loving wife of over 65 years. Andy was elected into the Mt. Airy Hall of Fame in 2001.
The family wishes to express special gratitude to Andy’s long-time friend Joan Collins who visited and cared for him faithfully during his last few years at Lorien Assisted Living facility. We also want to thank Lorien Assisted Living staff for their fine care of Andy during his 3 ½ years in residence and to Carroll Hospice nurses and volunteers for all their comfort and care during the last 8 months.
Visitation is Friday, August 8 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Stauffer Funeral Home, 8 East Ridgeville Boulevard in Mt. Airy. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 9 at the St. Michael’s Catholic Church at 1125 St. Michael’s Road, Mt. Airy with the Rev. Michael Ruane officiating. Interment will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 11 at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Richmond, VA where Andy and his wife Grace were both born, raised and married. Donations may be made in his memory to Mt. Airy Kiwanis Club for South Carroll High School Key Club, Attn: Angela Moore, 718 Meadow Field Ct., Mt Airy, MD 21771 OR the Historical Society of Mt Airy MD, PO Box 244, Mt Airy, MD 21771.
Known to everyone as Andy, he was born in Richmond, VA to George and Annie Sverchek Mason, immigrants from Russia and Yugoslavia. After high school, Andy worked at Crawford Manufacturing Co., a textile and seat cover making factory in Richmond. It was there that his boss suggested he go to college and he began taking evening courses, one of them being Public Speaking. Andy enlisted in the U.S. Army in August, 1942. There he put his speaking skills to work leading marching and drilling tactics. He became a non-commissioned sergeant responsible for assessment, classification and assignment of troops during WW II where he served until February, 1946. During that time, on his first furlough, he married his high school sweetheart Grace Elizabeth Baldwin on May 29, 1943. Determined to go to college after the war, Andy took advantage of the G.I. Bill and entered the University of Richmond in 1946, completing his 4-year degree in just 3 years. He then went on to get his Master’s Degree in Modern Languages at the University of Wisconsin in 1950 and took additional French courses at Middlebury College in Vermont.
Andy began his teaching career as a French teacher in 1950 at Westminster High School in Westminster, MD where he also taught Latin and Spanish. He then became principal at neighboring Taneytown High School from 1954-1958 before moving to Mt. Airy in 1958 to become principal of both the Mt. Airy Elementary and High Schools. After only one year in Mt. Airy, he was promoted to Supervisor of Special Education for the Maryland State Department of Education. During his 31 year career at the state, he held other positions including the State Supervisor of High Schools and Regional Coordinator for Western Maryland and later the Maryland Eastern Shore. He also led a big project called Project BASIC which was a state-wide program to get back to emphasizing the 3 basics of reading, writing and arithmetic in the school curriculums. Andy became well known over the entire state of Maryland and was active in the Maryland as well as National Associations for Secondary School Principals (MASSP and NASSP). The MASSP’s annual golf tournament at the spring conference bears his name, as he hosted that tournament for many years. Andy was a popular public speaker at events and conventions for many organizations and later became the coordinator for the American Legion Maryland State Oratorical Contest. He took pride in having two national winners from Maryland in 1992 and 1998. One of his greatest joys was being the commencement speaker at his oldest son Michael’s graduation from South Carroll High School in 1970 and he continued his public speaking long after he retired in 1990.
Although his main love was in education, Andy was also very involved in community service. A member of the Mt. Airy Kiwanis Club for over 50 years, he served twice as president and one year as the Capital District Division 9 Lieutenant Governor. He also started the Key Club at the new South Carroll High School shortly after it opened in 1967. He spearheaded a project which in 1965 established the first library in Mt. Airy, located on the 3rd floor of the now historic Flat Iron building which also housed the Mt. Airy Town Hall at that time. Andy headed the Mt. Airy Planning and Zoning Commission from 1966-1986 and was very active in American Legion Gold Star Post 191 serving as Post Commander in 1985-86.
An avid tennis player and golfer, Andy had a love for baseball and after coaching his two younger sons in little league and pony league, he became the manager of Post 191’s first American Legion baseball team in 1973. Andy was active in St. Michael’s Catholic Church for over 50 years as well as the Boy Scouts, with his middle son Gregg becoming an Eagle Scout in 1971. A consummate educator and family man, Andy took pride in raising his 3 sons and seeing them graduate from college and go on to successful careers and raise families of their own. But he also constantly reminded people that none of his successes or that of his boys would have been possible without the support of Grace, his loving wife of over 65 years. Andy was elected into the Mt. Airy Hall of Fame in 2001.
The family wishes to express special gratitude to Andy’s long-time friend Joan Collins who visited and cared for him faithfully during his last few years at Lorien Assisted Living facility. We also want to thank Lorien Assisted Living staff for their fine care of Andy during his 3 ½ years in residence and to Carroll Hospice nurses and volunteers for all their comfort and care during the last 8 months.
Visitation is Friday, August 8 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Stauffer Funeral Home, 8 East Ridgeville Boulevard in Mt. Airy. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 9 at the St. Michael’s Catholic Church at 1125 St. Michael’s Road, Mt. Airy with the Rev. Michael Ruane officiating. Interment will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 11 at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Richmond, VA where Andy and his wife Grace were both born, raised and married. Donations may be made in his memory to Mt. Airy Kiwanis Club for South Carroll High School Key Club, Attn: Angela Moore, 718 Meadow Field Ct., Mt Airy, MD 21771 OR the Historical Society of Mt Airy MD, PO Box 244, Mt Airy, MD 21771.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Andrew Mason, please visit our flower store.