Rossi to receive Rebecca Lukens Award

Recognition goes to women who perform exceptionally at work and in the community

Mary Ann Rossi joins past winners who illustrated what strong women can do in the business world,

The winner of this year’s Rebecca Lukens Award joins eight past recipients who illustrated what strong women can do in the business and non-profit worlds, organizers of the event to be held Thursday evening said.

Mary Ann Rossi, a partner at the MacElree-Harvey law firm in West Chester who specializes in land use practices, has served numerous Chester County charities and organizations. They include:

• Chester County Fund for Women and Girls, where she is past chair of the board;

• Legal Aid of Chester County, where she is past president;

• Brandywine Hospital and Trauma Center, where she is former first vice chairman of the board of directors;

• Brandywine Health Services, where she is past secretary;

• Brandywine Health and Wellness Foundation.

Her professional career has been equally impressive, said James D. Ziegler, executive director of the National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum.

Rossi’s experience in administrative matters includes the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Hearing Board.

In her land use practice, she has represented builder-developers and landowner clients in Chester, Montgomery, Berks and other suburban counties to secure approvals for a wide variety of development projects. She has also advised developers and prepared documentation for utility construction agreements, condominium and uniform planned communities, and has advised buyers and sell- ers in real estate transactions.

“We are so thrilled to be honoring Mary Ann Rossi this year,” Ziegler said. “Her dedication to her firm, her community, her family and clients exhibits the type of dedication that reflects the principles of Rebecca.”

Ziegler noted that those involved in the steel history district on South First Avenue in Coatesville view Rebecca Lukens as somewhat of a living spirit, and said a highlight of Thursday’s gathering will be photographs of letters sent by her and Dr. Charles Lukens that were recently found in the attic of one of the historic buildings there.

A buggy whip, door knobs and dresser handles from nearly 200 years ago were also discovered by workers in the Brandywine Mansion and will be on display, he said.

Charles L. “Skip” Huston, patriarch of the Huston family and great, great, great grandson of Rebecca Lukens, echoed Ziegler’s sentiments about this year’s honoree.

“When you need someone who has the love and respect of the community in which they

COURTESY PHOTO Mary Ann Rossi, a partner at the MacElree-Harvey law firm in West Chester, is the recipient of this year’s Rebecca Lukens Award.