Mary H. Smallman

HERMON — Mary H. Smallman, 90, formerly of Hermon, NY, died peacefully at Hamilton Continuing Care Center on October 26, 2009.

Born in Potsdam, NY, Mary was pre-deceased by her husband Walter C. Smallman, her parents Perry and Doris Hadlock and a sister Ruth O'Connor, and is survived by her brother and sister-in-law Richard and Ruth Hadlock, daughter and son-in-law Laurie and Al St. Clair, son and daughter-in-law Scott and Linda Biondi of Hamilton, NJ, grandchildren Brian Biondi, Jana Smith, Ann Mezger and David Biondi, great-grandchildren Julian and Finley Breuker, several nieces and nephews, and step-daughter and her husband Tammi and Brad Chatland and their family.

Mary was well known in Northern New York for her decades of work to preserve the history of the region and its families. She was the Hammond Town Historian, St. Lawrence County Historian and into her late 80s performed genealogical research. She was a founder of the St. Lawrence County Historical Assoc., and a member of the Nihanawate Chapter of the DAR, the Board of Directors of the North Country Library System, Board of Trustees of Paul Smith's College and the 1976 New York State Bi-Centennial Committee. In 1999, she was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the New York State Assembly.

She graduated from Bryant College (R.I.) and Empire State College, and held an Honorary Degree from Paul Smith's College. Mary was an accomplished public speaker, writer of dozens of newspaper articles and the author of several books. Mary enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, reading, writing letters to the editors of local newspapers and especially visiting with her many friends and neighbors in Hermon and throughout the North Country.

Funeral arrangements are private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Annual Fund at Paul Smith's College, PO Box 265, Paul Smith's, NY.