Worked to pair senior citizens with students
She raised eight children, founded Broward County’s Foster Grandparent Program and gave her time even in her retirement years to numerous communityminded leadership groups.
Mary Cooney Crum, of Sunrise, died June 28. She was 91.
It was 1966, she was in her 40s and her youngest child was of school age when she wrote the first grant for the program, which paired senior citizens with schoolchildren to mentor and nurture with grandparent-like love. Crum also directed its pilot program, which became a model for the nation.
“She came across this idea: ‘Let’s use our elderly. We’ve got this untapped resource,’ ” Crum’s daughter Dianne Rasch said.
“Shewas very focused on giving back,” Rasch said. “We’ve always known her as busy.”
Her mother got funnier and wittier with age, children adored her and she didn’t slow down much after her 1994 retirement, Rasch said.
“She was a very gentle soul,” Rasch said. “Yet tenacious and strong-willed.”
Born to a South Florida pioneer family, Crum was raised in what is now Miami’s Design District. In 1995, she was inducted into the Broward Women’s Hall of Fame.
Crum also gave her time to community organizations, including Leadership Broward, Youth Leadership Broward and her sorority, AlphaGamma Delta.
Crum is survived by her five daughters and three sons, and12 grandchildren.
A funeralMass will be at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 5 at All Saints Catholic Church in Sunrise. Mass will be followed by a Celebration of Life. Crum will be buried at the Miami City Cemetery in a private family gathering.
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