Combal, Mary Pauline March 10, 1941 - January 12, 2019

Mary Schmid Combal, 77, of Scarsdale New York, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2019.  She was the daughter of Richard and Elva Schmid, who preceded her in death, as did her sister Carol Schmid Moody and brother John Schmid.  She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Pierre Combal, her daughters Julie Combal-Olbert and Martine Combal, her sons-in-law, Graig Olbert and Patrick McDonald, her grandchildren Theodore Olbert and Madeleine McDonald, and her sister Margaret Schmid Bartelme of Scarsdale.

A fearless woman of character with a passion for literature and the French language, she graduated in 1962 from St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul Minnesota and moved to France, where she received a Doctorat d’Université in comparative literature from the University de Toulouse in 1968. In 1973 she received her Maitrise in American Literature from the University of Lille and a PhD from Fordham University in 1983 in twentieth-century French literature.  Mary served on the boardof directorsof the American Association of Teachers of French(AATF), New York Metropolitan Chapter, and presented at AATF conferences on Francophone literature.  She has written numerous book reviews for the French Review and was presented in 1991with the Chevalier dans L’Ordre des Palmes Académiquesby the French Republic, an honor bestowed to distinguished academics and figures in the world of culture and education.

A devoted teacher of French language, Mary started her career as an adjunct professor at Lehman College and Concordia University, and at the Scarsdale Alternative School in the early 80’s.  However, it was at The Spence School in Manhattan where Mary found her calling in 1984.   Mary taught French at Spence for 33 years was head of the Foreign Language department for 14 years.  Her goalsin teaching were to open her students’ eyes to the Francophone world, as well as other foreign languages and cultures, and impart to them passion, curiosity and joy.

Mary was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and friend; she loved to entertain and was a wonderful cook. Shewas a member of the Hoff- Barthelson Music School choir, the Scarsdale Woman’s Club, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary parishwhere she developed many cherished friendships. Time with family was spent traveling and sharing precious moments of her daughters’ and grandchildren’s lives.   She loved ancient civilizations and the arts, taking any opportunity to go to a museum, a film, the theater, or to sing ordance.   She instilled in her family a passion for the world and all the beauty, intellect, excitement and adventure it holds.  Mary was a trueand constantteacher. Her family thanks her concerned and caring friends, as she found comfort in their presence.

A memorial service will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Scarsdale, NY on Friday, January 18, 2019 at 10am.

In lieu of flowers, Mary’s wishes were that gifts be made to The Spence School’s Financial Aid Program. Gifts in her memory can be made online at www.spenceschool.org/giveonline