Mary Ann Van Duyn

Mary Ann Van Duyn passed away on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 after a blessedly short battle with cancer. Mary Ann was born on February 20, 1954 in Niagara Falls, NY, to the late Ted and Marie Steele. 

Mary Ann had an extraordinary ability to balance family and a fulfilling career in public health. She was devoted to her husband of 45 years, Don, her children, grandchildren, and a string of small dogs. The year after her retirement, before her death, was spent caring for her two grandchildren, Rosie and Henry, and was among the happiest of her life. She treasured time spent with her children and her siblings. She followed Don to assignments in Japan and Australia despite the disruptions to her own career, always carving professional paths that few could have envisioned. She loved traveling, going to art galleries, walking the dogs, dark chocolate, and coffee yogurt. 

Mary Ann was committed to improving health outcomes for all. She graduated from Cornell University in 1976 with a BS in nutrition and worked as a clinical and research dietitian at John Hopkins Hospital and Medlantic. She also always made sure everyone in the family ate a healthy diet. She went on to earn an MPH and a PhD in nutrition while working part time and raising two children. She co-authored a book in English and Japanese on nutrition in Japan and worked for the Australian equivalent of the FDA while in Australia. She was committed to her colleagues and the mission of the NCI Center for Reducing Cancer Health Disparities, where she worked for 20 years, developing a strong network of grantees in cancer centers across the country. In retirement, she supported the Frederick County Department of Health in helping craft the county’s health priorities.

In addition to her husband, Don, Mary Ann is survived by her daughter, Sarah and son-in-law, Brian Dutoi; son, Matthew and partner, Sophia Posnock; grandchildren, Rosie and Henry; brother and sister-in-law, Stan and Mary Steele; sister and brother-in-law, Tricia and Ted Bergman; uncle, John Hurley; nephews, Nate and Tico Bergman, Stanley, Ryan, and Owen Steele, Matt Feeney, and Jim Terhune; and nieces, Maggie, Annie, Elizabeth Steele, and Katie Steele, Katie Meyers, Beth Fuller, and Marnie Terhune.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 PM on 13 April 2023 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick, 4880 Elmer Derr Road, Frederick, MD 21703. A social gathering will follow at a local brew pub with details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary Ann’s memory can be made online or by mail to the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. Expressions of sympathy may be offered at www.StaufferFuneralHome.com.