RUTH REED MRAZ

FORT FAIRFIELD – Ruth Reed Mraz, 81, a retired journalist and public relations director, died Feb. 19, 2008, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. She was born Feb. 8, 1927, in Fort Fairfield, the daughter of Walter M. and Eva Seeley Reed. A graduate of Oak Grove School and Erskine College, she also attended Rhode Island School of Design and Boston University. For many years, Mraz was a feature writer and district correspondent for the Maine Sunday Telegram and other Gannett newspapers, winning many top honors for her work, including several Gold Press Card awards. She also did free lance work for the New York Sunday News and for several advertising agencies in Maine. She was appointed the first University Relations director of the University of Maine – Presque Isle, UMPI, and served in that post until her retirement in 1982. While at UMPI, she did much work in the development area, serving as clerk of the Foundation of the University at Presque Isle and writing the grant which secured the UMPI OWL sculpture by Bernard Langlais for the campus from the National Endowment for the Arts. She was active in the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, serving on the executive committee for District I. An associate member of the Maine Press Association, she was made an honorary member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority and Kappa Mu sorority. She was secretary of the Northeast Press Association. A member of United Parish Church, she was president of the 20-30 Club and Dorcas Circle. Mraz also served as president of the Philomathian Club. Four Maine governors appointed Ruth to various posts, including the Maine State Museum Commission, the Positive Action Committee, the Blaine House Acquisition Committee, Chairman of the First Families Project and the Maine Historical Records Advisory Board. She was also a member of Sen. William Cohen’s Judicial and Federal Appointments Committee, and served on the White House Committee on Libraries for Maine. Long interested in history and genealogy, she was a life member of the Maine Society of Mayflower Descendents, a founding member and director of the Constance Hopkins Colony and a member of the Gerow Family Association of the National Huguenot Historical Society. Back when women journalists were few in number, Ruth was the fist women invited to go on a refueling mission of a KC-135 tanker and B-52 bomber over the Atlantic Ocean, and the only woman from New England to cover the Atlas Missile ceremonies at Plattsburg Air Force Base, N.Y. She was listed in Who’s Who in the East. In 2000, Ruth was selected for inclusion in the Millennium Women of Aroostook Calendar. She and her husband, Art, were chosen as “Citizens of the Year” in 2005 by the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce. They were cited for the volunteerism efforts in supporting the community and doing the research on the historic Friends Church and securing it on the National Register of Historic Places. Ruth and Art lectured and conducted tours on the church, as well as speaking on the Underground Railroad in Maine. One brother, Walter M. Reed Jr., predeceased her. Mrs. Mraz is survived by her husband, Arthur J. Mraz, whom she married Aug. 7, 1948. She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Randall R. and Mary J. Mraz of Freeport; one daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Nancy M. and Dr. Andrew C. G. Armstrong of Campton, N.H.; one brother, former governor and U.S. Ambassador John H. Reed of Washington, D.C.; three granddaughters, Emily Mraz Zamboni and husband, Zachary, of New York City, Melinda Mraz of Hanover, N.H., and Addie Armstrong of Campton, N.H.; one grandson, Alexander Armstrong of Campton, N.H.; several nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Fri-ends who wish may contribute to the Friends Church Museum of Frontier Heritage Historical Society, care of Pat Troicke, 77 Presque Isle St., Fort Fairfield, ME 04742; United Parish Church Memorial Fund, care of Joyce Plant, 45 Brunswick Ave., Fort Fairfield, ME 04742; or Fort Fairfield Memorial Arbor Committee Tree Project, care of Jean Reynolds, 8 Forest Ave., Fort Fairfield, ME 04742.