Technically a Gemini, but on the Taurus cusp, Mary shares the traits of both. Anyone who has met Mary will agree that she is very adaptable and versatile, communicative and witty, intellectual and eloquent, youthful and lively. In addition, those who know her very well have seen several examples of her very warmhearted, loving, patient and reliable side.

Mary possesses moxie and is very driven, leading to much success in her career as a corporate executive. She is very trusting and believes in empowering people to be the best person they can be, and therefore, makes a natural leader. She is also very modest and humble, which is why you will only hear about her amazing qualities and accomplishments from others.

As a risk taker, an explorer, and a lover of fresh air, Mary has ventured to several places and experienced various outdoor activities. She's been rock climbing throughout California, including Joshua tree, the Pinnacles, and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mary is a certified rescue scuba diver and has nearly completed the level of divemaster. She loves camping and has even been snow camping, sleeping in a self-built snow cave. Hiking up and down all corners of the Grand Canyon is no small feat, and only touches on her hiking experience. Running and biking aren't Mary's favorite activities, but she has competed in one challenging hill-laden triathlon and lived to talk about it. Kayaking is one of her greatest loves and at one time she guided trips at Tomales Bay. She's also kayaked Alaska, the San Juan Islands, the central California coast and Baja on three occasions. Still on Mary's list of outdoor adventures to experience include exploring Antarctica, ice diving and paragliding off of Halae'akala.

Mary has maintained an interest in hospice and improving life for the ignored and forgotten community of senior citizens. As a first step in that direction, in 2004, Mary and our dog Dodger did the homework, training and thorough evaluation necessary to become Pet Partners through Delta Society, an organization for animal assisted therapy. She is currently checking with convalescent hospitals in Davis to find a place where their services are needed. Search and Rescue has also been a long-time interest and Mary sees herself doing S&R in the form of rescue diving or training with one of our dogs for tracking.

Soccer has been Mary's primary sport, both as an athlete and a fan. She played for Davis High, and then continued at UC Davis as goalkeeper. As an adult, she has intermittently participated in women's leagues and tournaments for both indoor and outdoor soccer. She primarily plays with a team called the "Killer Tomatoes", a wonderful and wild group of women who have become like family over the years. Mary has attended several games in past Women's World Cups, and even served as a volunteer for both the Men's World Cup in 1994 and Women's World Cup in 1999.

Mary values her family and heritage very much. We are fortunate to have her loving parents close by. She has one sibling, a twin brother who lives in Oregon with his wife and daughter. She has an aunt, uncle, cousins and an amazing grandmother in Guanajuato, Mexico. Her dear Uncle David resides in Chesterfield, Missouri.

Mary is the most generous, caring, loving, non-judgmental person I have ever met. Her positive outlook on people and life is contagious, and she has helped bring out all of my best qualities. My love and respect for her deepens every day. I knew from the first day we met she was my soulmate — I found the missing piece to my puzzle, the other half to my heart. I can't think of a single person I'd rather build a life and family with. Our life together has been a magnificent adventure, and it has only just begun.