Mary Corinne McLuhan

October 26, 1945 - July 30, 2019

On Tuesday, July 30, 2019 Mary Corinne McLuhan, loving mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully at age 73 at her home in Sacramento.

Mary was born on October 26th, 1945 in Windsor, Canada to Marshall and Corinne (Lewis) McLuhan. She grew up in Toronto and studied at the University of Windsor. Mary moved to San Francisco in 1964 where she met Thomas J. Colton. They married in 1966 and had a daughter, Jennifer Colton.

Mary had a passion for education and believed in supporting teachers. She was the youngest appointee to serve on the California State Board of Education under Governor Jerry Brown from 1978-1983. In 1981 she established the Marshall McLuhan Center on Global Communications, a non-profit founded in her father’s honor, dedicated to awarding outstanding teachers across the United States and Canada. Over three decades the foundation awarded over 475 educators and their schools for excellence in teaching.

Mary was known for her charm, exuberance, energy and incredible resourcefulness. While she focused on promoting excellence in education, she also had a great curiosity for understanding the impact of technology on society and culture. She spent the majority of her life in California, where she worked as a producer and fundraiser. Her favorite city and the place she called home was San Francisco.

Mary is survived by her daughter Jennifer, son-inlaw, Gary Theut, her two granddaughters, Olivia and Charlotte Theut, and four siblings.