Neighborhood leader mourned
Residents of the city’s Little Italy neighborhood Association are mourning the death of one of its longtime community leaders.
Marion Field, 75, who helped to establish the Little Italy Neighborhood Association and served for several years as its president, died May 9.
Field was a lifelong city resident who attended Catholic Central High School and lived on Washington Place at the time of her death.
Field was someone who was very proud of her family’s Italian heritage and pioneered the Little Italy neighborhood group, serving as editor of its newsletter, business manager and its liaison to city government, in addition to the group’s president.
“She was our primary fundraiser and managed two weekly Bingo games at the Atrium,” said Mike Esposito, a member of the association and a lifelong friend. “With her loyal Bingo volunteers, she sponsored an annual holiday Adopt-A-Family and Breakfast with Santa. Marion helped make Little Italy one of the most active neighborhood associations in the area.”
Field was the longtime proprietor of the Dorian Beauty Salon, which she started with her sister, Anna Vogt-Church. Later in life, Field was a successful realtor and most recently worked for HEER Realty in Troy.
“She was really one of the top community leaders, and her passion was helping the Little Italy Neighborhood Association,” said Field’s son, Fred Cietek. “She would even buy houses just so that she could than rent
the houses out to Rensselaer [Polytechnic Institute] students, so that she could provide safe housing for them.”
Field was recognized with many awards throughout her lifetime for her community involvement. She was honored by the Troy Youth Association as its Person of the Year in 2010, by the Troy Rehabilitation & Improvement Project as a Troy Treasure in 2013, by the U.S. Department of Justice for her work on Troy’s Weed & Seed program and
by the Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway at its 2015 gala for her commitment to the Little Italy community.
When Field wasn’t helping the neighborhood association, she also enjoyed working with youth programs.
“Marion really enjoyed organizing or participating in any kind of city program that involved helping or working with our youth,” said Esposito.
Among the many programs she organized, Esposito said Field always considered a drop-in summer camp program for neighborhood children her favorite. Field partnered with private businesses and
city government and coordinated community fundraising events to support the free recreation program for city boys and girls ages 12 to 16.
“I think that she will be most remembered for her passion for the city of Troy and that she was the go-to person for making things happen throughout the city for many years,” said her daughter-in-law, Theresa Kegley.
That appreciation extended throughout the neighborhood, according to Esposito.
“We would all have meetings every week about different events we were planning, and Field was always
right there with us and really stepped up and showed herself to all of us,” said Esposito. “She will really be missed by everyone in our community.”
Funeral services will be held at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday from the John J. Sanvidge Funeral Home, located at the corner of 115th Street and 4th Avenue in Lansingburgh, to St. Anthony of Padua Shrine Church, 28 State St., at 10 a.m. for a Mass of Christian burial. Memorial contributions can be made to the Little Italy Neighborhood Association at www.troylittleitaly.org.