Dr. Mary Marangos, a career educator, public servant and a longtime activist in the Hellenic American community, passed away this past December, after a valiant struggle with breast cancer. She was the loving and devoted daughter of Pantelis Marangos from Kalavasos, Cyprus, and Despina Kyriacou from Lesvos, Greece. She was devoted to them and steadfast in her care of both in their later years.

Mary Marangos was a whirlwind of activity, leading Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney to bestow upon her the nickname "the Greek Cannonball." She was active in and helped organize events for countless organizations such as the Panpaphian Association and the Women's Issues Network of the Pancyprian Association. She worked closely with local organizations such as the Greek-American Homeowners Association, the Cretan Association, and the Federation of Hellenic Societies on important activities such as citizenship and voter registration drives. She was deeply involved in every aspect of the life of the Hellenic-American community.

Her dedication to public service and helping others started early. She was an educator, administrator and coordinator at the vocational/ alternative high school level in the New York City public school system, serving as a coordinator of the GED program at the Vocational Training Center at LaGuardia Airport. She coordinated the AIDS Prevention Program on the high school level, training teachers on how to teach HIV prevention and holding conferences on the epidemic. Dr. Marangos also fostered staff development initiatives for elementary school teachers and administrators.

A graduate of New York City public schools, Mary Marangos earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the New York State Education Department, a Master's Degree in high school administration and supervision from Fordham University, and a doctorate in International-Intercultural Developmental Education from Florida State University under a full fellowship from the U.S. Department of Education.

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney for whom Mary worked as liaison to the Greek community, submitted an entry into the Congressional Record to honor her. “As the Member of Congress representing Astoria, New York, home to the largest population of persons of Hellenic descent anywhere in the United States, I have depended on Mary Marangos to serve as my eyes and ears in that thriving, bustling community for the last seventeen years,” Maloney stated. “Madam Speaker, I request that my esteemed colleagues join me in paying tribute to the late Dr. Mary Marangos for her extraordinary contributions to the civic life of our nation.”