Mary Ryan Bishop

Mary Ryan Bishop was born in Hatfield, MA on April 26, 1942, to Edward and Mary Ryan, and died on July 11, 2021, at the age of 79, after beating back cancer three times in the last decade. She is predeceased by her husband Bruce Bishop, and her brother John Ryan. Mary is survived by her daughters Elizabeth Gemoets (Darren) and Catherine Bishop (Dan Marino), son David Bishop, and three grandchildren Ethan, Lily, and Ryan. She is also survived by cherished, life-long friends with whom she traveled the world, played bridge and mahjong, volunteered, taught, and pursued any number of her myriad interests. Mary was a graduate of Smith College and a teacher and student of earth science for more than 40 years in Kingston and Saugerties School Districts. Her family was always on notice that she would take a one-way trip into space if an opportunity presented itself. However, in lieu of that, Mary sent Science Experience Modules (SEMs) into space with John Glenn's STS-95 Discovery mission, ensured that Saugerties Schools received some of the earliest Apollo lunar rock samples, and served many years as a consultant to NASA, the Hubble Space Telescope Institute, and Goddard Space Center. She had a love of travel and was a true bibliophile, with lifelong support of libraries locally and around the world. Mary was also a Certified Financial Planner and had been Chair of the Board of the Ulster Federal Credit Union for more than a decade when she died.

Arrangements are being handled by Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, and the funeral will be at St. John's Episcopal Church at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 31, 2021. In lieu of flowers, Mary requested donations to the Bishop Organ Fund, St. John's Episcopal Church, 207 Albany Avenue, Kingston, NY, 12401. To participate in the service via Zoom, visit www.stjohnskingston.org/online-streaming-worship . To leave an expression of sympathy, please visit www.KeyserFuneralService.com .