Community pays tribute to former mayor
Marianne Deery, a founder of Building a Better Boyertown, died at age 80
The Boyertown community mourns the death of former Mayor Marianne Deery, who died at age 80 on Jan. 5.
Marianne served on Boyertown Borough Council on various committees for 10 years and later served as mayor for 20 years. She was also the former owner of The Twin Turrets Inn, as well as a founder of Building a Better Boyertown.
Having known Marianne for many years, her successor, Mayor Lori Carnes, said they had many things in common and their friendship started before their professional relationship.
During one of their conversations, Carnes expressed her desire to one day be mayor and Marianne suggested she run for a position on borough council and learn about the borough and the governmental process. She followed her advice and started her journey.
“I am sad that I lost my mentor to guide me through my beginning mayoral years,” Carnes said. “I am sad that Boyertown lost such a great supporter of our town. But most of all, I am sad to lose a dear friend. She was an incredible woman and she will always be in my heart.”
Throughout her years of community service, Marianne served on various boards, most recently Building a Better Boyertown, Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles, Boyertown State Theatre and the Colebrookdale Railroad, according to her obituary.
“We are incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Marianne Deery last week,” the Boyertown Area Historical Society shared in a statement on Facebook. “She was such a great advocate for preserving Boyertown’s history, an amazing community leader and an absolutely wonderful person and kind soul. She will be sorely missed by us all.”
Luann Zambanini, treasurer of the historical society’s board of directors, shared that she will always remember Marianne for her love of people, especially on Memorial Day on Cannon Hill before the start of the parade.
“Very few people go up to Cannon Hill, but I have gone for years,” Zambanini said. “I feel like that was a little special time I had with Marianne. Each year we chatted as the American Legion men set things up. Marianne loved the people of Boyertown and cared so much
about them. Her speech at Fairview Cemetery was always so moving and filled with love for those who had given their lives protecting our country.”
In a statement shared on Facebook, the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles posted: “We here at the Boyertown Museum are deeply saddened by the passing of Marianne Deery. Her warm, lovely spirit will be missed by staff, volunteers, and her fellow board members. She was never too busy to offer kind words and encouragement.”
“Marianne Deery was a respected member of the community and our board of directors. She will forever be missed,” the Historic State Theatre of Boyertown shared on Facebook.
The Colebrookdale Railroad also shared a statement on Facebook: “In the early years, Marianne Deery was often in the train yard. She was willing to scrape, paint, roll up her sleeves and get the work moving forward. That’s one of the many things we loved most about our mayor. She was kind, welcoming, generous, and funny.
“Her approach to politics was the same as her approach to general life, as she was understated but always committed to this community and to ‘Building a Better Boyertown.’ As both the mayor and the owner of the bed and breakfast, The Twin Turrets, and like the iron gates that now don her name, Marianne stood to watch as sentinel and as the primary welcoming committee to Boyertown. Those who know Marianne know she did all she did walking side-by-side with her wonderful husband, Frank. We join Frank in celebrating Marianne’s life and work and send him our deepest sympathies for the loss of a lady we all love deeply.”
Marianne was also an officer and board member of the General Spaatz Memorial Association and ardent supporter and friend of the General Carl Spaatz National USAAF Museum in Boyertown.
“In recognition of her dedication and service, we have lowered the flags at the General Spaatz Memorial to half staff,” the museum shared in a statement on Facebook. “Our condolences and sympathies are extended to her husband Frank, and to her family and friends everywhere. She will be missed.”
Chaplain Mark Malizzi, founder and president of Thunder Outreach Ministries in Boyertown and a board member of the Boyertown American Legion, said he had the great honor of knowing and working with Marianne for many years. They were able to work together on many town projects and he always enjoyed working with her.
“I remember her helping us paint in the Boyertown Inn project, Malizzi said. “She was never afraid to roll up her sleeves and jump right in. She was always willing to help and always wanted the best for Boyertown.
“Times may have changed, but there will only ever be one Marianne Deery.”
Building A Better Boyertown
In 2002, Marianne founded Building A Better Boyertown, a nonprofit Main Street program, giving the organization its name as well.
“She was a remarkable woman, a community role model and my friend,” said Main Street Manager Ellen Martignetti. “She was kind, welcoming to all and she loved Boyertown with all her heart. Before I worked for Building a Better Boyertown, I was a volunteer and met her through this organization.”
On behalf of Building a Better Boyertown’s board of directors, Martignetti explained that Marianne had heard about the Main Street America program, investigated it, formed a committee and held several public meetings to discuss making Boyertown into a Main Street community.
Its former tag line was “Building a Better Boyertown one block at a time.”
“She was not just an advocate for Building a Better Boyertown but for many of the local organizations or businesses,” Martignetti said. “As mayor, she was always doing what she felt was fair and best for our town and its economy. She frequently reached out to local politicians no matter what their party affiliation was to try to get support for funding upcoming projects or whatever the need was at the time or simply to let them know that Boyertown was an important community.”
While she was innkeeper of the Twin Turrets, she made many personal connections with her guests that often returned because of her genuine kindness, said Martignetti.
Marianne celebrated 25 years as owner and innkeeper of The Twin Turrets Inn in 2019. Now under the ownership of Brenda Cullen, a December ribbon cutting celebrated the inn’s renovation and new name, The Atherton Inn.
“I loved hosting luncheons for political figures on the federal, state and county levels but also inviting locals so that we could learn from each other,” Marianne wrote in her obituary. “As previous owner and innkeeper of the Twin Turrets Inn, my door was always open for guests from around the world and to locals who needed to talk. Everybody came to love our English Springer Spaniels, Emmy, Lizzie, and Abby.”
“She and her husband Frank often became friends with their guests, even traveling overseas to visit them,” said Martignetti. “That was just her personality, warm and welcoming to all from the moment you met her.”
During her time on borough council or as mayor or innkeeper, Martignetti said Marianne always found time for people or volunteered to help in between her other responsibilities.
“She always gave of herself and expected nothing in return,” Martignetti said. “We all mourn her loss, and our sympathies go out to her husband, Frank, her family and friends.”
Jane Stahl, director of community relations for Studio B Art Gallery and committee chair for Building a Better Boyertown’s Arts and Activities Alliance, shared a tribute on her digital news site The Boyertown Area Expression, writing, “Boyertown will grieve the loss of Marianne Deery for a long, long time, but the community will benefit from her tireless efforts and generosity for much, much longer.”
Marianne touched many lives and Building a Better Boyertown’s many projects benefited the community that she loved, wrote Stahl.
“Yet, what I will miss about Marianne is personal; and I doubt I am alone. What I will miss is her belief in me,” she said.
When Stahl suggested that Boyertown needed an Arts and Activities Alliance, Marianne challenged her to make it happen.
“No matter what project I have shared with her — mundane or far-out — she was quick to express her enthusiasm and amazement. And her generous support,” Stahl wrote.
Stahl wrote that Marianne had the gift that Maya Angelou explained in her oftquoted confession, “I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
“Marianne made me feel that I could do anything and that everything I did was amazing! She inspired me to follow my dream, to take a risk, to try what might seem impossible… or unpopular. Her belief in me was unqualified; her support was generous and never wavered. And I’m certain she championed others in exactly the same way,” wrote Stahl.
“Perhaps, above all, at the heart of her role of championing and inspiring people to follow their dreams, was her dream: reminding us all that, in the end, building a better Boyertown meant knowing that none of us is a stranger — just a friend we have not yet met,” concluded Stahl. “Rest in peace, my friend; your legacy: building a better Boyertown. We will continue your work and remember you always.”
Awards
In 2004, Marianne was honored as Building A Better Boyertown’s Volunteer of the Year, in 2005 as Boyertown’s Citizen of the Year and in 2006 was the recipient of YWCA Tri-County Area’s Tribute to Exceptional Women for outstanding service and contribution in the field of business. In 2021, she received a Recognition Plaque from Barry Leatherman and the police department, a citation from the state House of Representatives signed by Rep. David Maloney and a citation from the state Senate signed by Sen. Bob Mensch, and a gift with recognition from Boyertown Borough Council, according to her obituary.
The former mayor was most recently presented an award in December.
Ellixson’s Tae Kwon Do Academy in Boyertown presented The Hwa-Rang Award to Marianne.
“The Hwa-Rang Warriors of Korea date back to 600 AD and their story is comparable to the story of the Spartan 300. They would be comparable to like the Navy SEALs of today,” said Academy owner Donnie Ellixson Jr. “The Hwa-Rang Award is not necessarily awarded to a martial artist but rather someone in the community that has the dedication, spirit and perseverance that the Hwa-Rang possessed.”
Due to health reasons, Marianne was unable to attend the Dec. 10 awards banquet so the award was brought to her.
Ellixson and last year’s Hwa-Rang Award recipient, Amy Muzopappa, presented the award to Marianne in her home.
“Even though her health was declining and having a bad day, (Marianne) and Frank welcomed us with open arms,” said Ellixson. “She got dolled up, we sat, had some great talks and a couple laughs. Although we enjoyed the time immensely, we knew that she did not have much time. I felt so fortunate to have known her and work with her.”
Ellixson had the opportunity to work with her on many projects over the years.
“Her love for Boyertown was paramount and contagious. She was bold, caring, encouraging and just dedicated to making Boyertown better today than it was yesterday,” he said.
“She was the matriarch of this town,” concluded Ellixson. “She was loved dearly by all who knew her. She will be missed, but we will carry on her legacy.”
While her awards and accomplishments were many, Marianne wrote in her obituary that her greatest honor was serving the Boyertown community.
“Thanks for the memories. I have many to thank: Boyertown’s volunteers; Bayada Visiting Nurse; Pottstown’s Cancer Center; Chestnut Knoll and the many friends and relatives with words of encouragement to continue this journey. My husband, Frank, was with me every step of the way,” wrote Marianne.