The Connection

When Mary Ann Ormes followed her childhood sweetheart to Alexandria in 1954, the young bride didn’t waste any time getting involved in her community.

“One of my earliest memories is of her volunteering at Beverley Hills Pre-School, where we went to school,” said Ormes’ eldest daughter Julia Robinson. “Whether it was taking my sisters and me to art or music lessons, or getting involved with the League of Women Voters, she always kept busy.”

The growing family moved to Central Avenue in Braddock Heights in 1958, where Ormes would remain for more than 50 years. During that time, she served on the board of directors of the League of Women Voters, United Way of Alexandria and the Alexandria Legal Aid Society. But when then-mayor Charles Beatley appointed her to the newly formed Commission on Aging in 1968, she found her passion.

“Mom saw the need right away for an entity to provide services for seniors,” Robinson said. “It was important to her to help Alexandria’s older residents maintain their independence and quality of life.”

Ormes served on the board of directors until 1973, when she stepped down to become SSA’s first executive director. She remained in that position until her retirement in 2000. On May 6, the advocate for Alexandria seniors died just days after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was 89.

"Mary Ann was an amazing woman,” said former SSA executive director Janet Barnett. “She was among the first people I called to ask whether I should accept the position at SSA. We discussed new issues facing seniors that are different from those faced in 1968. It is impossible to measure the impact her work has today more than 40 years later.”

Born Mary Ann Otto in Crawfordsville, Ind. on June 10, 1925, Ormes graduated from Miami University of Ohio in 1947 before marrying Robert Ormes in 1950. Together they raised three daughters: Julia, Carolyn and Margaret.

“Mom was very proud of her work with SSA, especially organizing transportation for seniors through the use of taxis rather than more expensive minivans,” Robinson said. “Even though it was a lot of work, she loved the challenge of finding economical ways to provide services to seniors.”

Ormes also served on the National Symphony Orchestra Women’s Committee from 1993 until her death. She was the chairman of the NSO Decorator Show House event in 2001, raising more than $750,000 for the organization. She served as chairman of the Alexandria chapter and volunteered at the symphony as an usher until 2013.

Ormes remained in her Braddock Heights home until 2009 when she moved to a retirement community in Loudoun County.

“But she never slowed down,” Robinson said. “Mom was active in the Ashby Ponds community, volunteering in various capacities. She continued her book club and bridge club memberships right up until she died.”

Ormes was predeceased by her husband Robert in 1984. She is survived by her twin sister, Nancy Heller of Winnetka, Ill., daughters Julia Robinson (Derrick) of Boulder, Colo., Carolyn Kollar (William) of Leesburg, Va., and Margaret Ormes of Cambridge, Mass. Ormes also leaves behind grandchildren Jeffrey and Lindsay Robinson.

Funeral services were held May 8 in Ashburn. Donations may be made in her memory to NatureServe, c/o Erin Chen, 4600 N. Fairfax Drive, 7th Floor, Arlington, VA 22312, or online at www.natureserve.org. Contributions may also be made to the National Symphony Orchestra.

“Even though she was 89, her death has been a terrible shock to us,” Robinson said. “But the days we had with her after diagnosis were a gift. She had a good, long life and said that if she had to go, she was glad it would be fast. Her family, her friends — we were all lucky to have her for almost 90 years.”