Oxford native Marilyn Ware dies

Daughter of U.S. Rep John H. Ware III was a businesswoman and former ambassador to Finland

Oxford native Marilyn Ware, a former U.S. ambassador to Finland, journalist, businesswoman and Oxford High School graduate, died on Dec. 14 in a hospital in Colorado. She was 74.

She was the daughter of the late Marian Snyder Ware and the late state Sen. and U.S. Rep. John H. Ware III of Oxford.

Ware was an inductee in Oxford High School’s first Wall of Fame for Distinguished Alumni.

Ware’s daughter, Amyla Lavric published this message on Facebook this weekend:

“With great sadness we share: our beloved mother Marilyn Ware passed away peacefully this morning as the sun rose over the Rockies. She has been struggling with complications from Alzheimer’s Disease. This past week has been heartbreaking, but also full of love and tenderness.

“We would like to thank the wonderful doctors, nurses, chaplains, and palliative care team at Denver Health Medical Center, as well as friends and family who helped us through this very difficult period. We are so very grateful for the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes of the few people who knew of her medical situation. They have buoyed us and given us the strength to carry on.

“Mom was a bright and vibrant woman whose inimitable spirit will bring joy to our hearts always.”

Lavric said in the post that arrangements would be published later for her celebratory remembrances in Denver and Philadelphia.

In her professional career, Ware was the CEO of American Water Works Company that was owned by the family. She was also involved with gas companies and Penn Fuel in Oxford.

Ware was nominated by President George W. Bush

in October 2005. She served at the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki from March 2006 to March 2008.

Family friend and Oxford Area Senior Center Executive Director Jim McLeod remembers Ware as a “tough and classy lady.”

“She had a feeling about Oxford even after she moved away. When she would come back she would ask me, ‘What’s going on in town?’” McLeod said.

In 1994 McLeod was in a serious car accident that left him hospitalized in serious condition for a long time.

“Marilyn found out about it and told my son, ‘Whatever your father needs, hospital or anything, tell your mother to call me,’ That’s the kind of person she was,” McLeod said.

He also credits Ware with helping Tom Ridge get elected governor of Pennsylvania.

McLeod said if people look at pictures of Gov. Ridge’s inauguration they will see Marilyn Ware sitting behind him at the ceremony.

He said Ware moved later to Colorado to be with her children.

Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Val DiGiorgio issued this public statement:

“Like so many across Pennsylvania, I am deeply saddened to learn of Marilyn Ware’s passing. Marilyn was an eminently kind and gracious person. She lived her life with the utmost commitment to Republican values and principles — her legacy will forever be weaved into the fabric of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania.

“Carolina and I extend our sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Ware family during this difficult time.”

Marilyn Ware