MARY E. HOTTE
Mary E. Hotte of Larchmont and Manhattan died on January 23rd after a
brief illness. The Executive Director of the Community Planning Council of
Yonkers (CPCY) for 24 years until her retirement in December, she was a
longtime community planner and activist in and for the people of Yonkers.
A specialist in information and referral, Mrs. Hotte considered her most
important contribution to be the fostering of collaboration by diverse
groups and individuals to mobilize community building efforts.
Mary Elizabeth Peets was born in Long Beach, NY, on July 29, 1927, to
Everett and Ethel Brindle Peets. She graduated from the College of New
Rochelle in 1948, and went on to earn a Master's Degree in education from
Columbia University Teachers College, where she was a Robert Anderson
Scholar. On May 29, 1949, she was married in Bronxville to E. Roger
Hotte of Buffalo, New York. Mrs. Hotte resided in Larchmont for 50
years where she was an active volunteer with the Adoption Service of
Westchester and Family Services of Westchester.
In the mid-1960's she served as the project chairperson of the Junior
League of Westchester-on-the-Sound, convening a forum of business,
political and religious leaders from the Sound Shore communities to
identify needs to be met by League funding. Based on this collaboration,
she developed and implemented both the Youth Employment Service of
Larchmont and Mamaroneck and Carver Center in Port Chester, programs which
continue today as models of community action.
Her greatest personal joys were her family, international travel, and
her community. She was outspoken in her belief that Larchmont must
find ways to welcome citizens of diverse backgrounds and incomes, and
was a regular contributor at Town meetings. She was a 50 year member of
the Larchmont Badminton Club, which was her favorite weekend activity,
and a long-time member of the Larchmont Yacht Club where she remained a
strong supporter of the junior sailing programs.
Mrs. Hotte's professional career began at the Institute for Community
Studies at Sarah Lawrence College, where she worked to promote scattered
site housing in Yonkers. She went onto become the Associate Executive
Director of the Westchester Community Planning Council before joining
CPCY as Executive Director in 1981. She served as Commissioner of the
Westchester Housing Opportunity Commission and as Vice President of
CLUSTER, a Yonkers based multi-service nonprofit agency. Through CPCY she
initiated the Yonkers Community Health Coalition, Parents as Partners,
the WORK program, Work Opportunity Referral for Kids, YEFI, the Yonkers
Elder Friendly Initiative and 55 Plus Yonkers Connections.
After developing and operating the first program for homeless and
run-away youth in Westchester in the 1980's, she became an early advocate
for the thousands of homeless people county-wide and in Yonkers, helping
to develop the Coalition for the Homeless of Westchester.
Recognized locally and nationally, Mrs. Hotte has been honored by the
County of Westchester, The Spanish Community Progress Foundation, and
she received the Memorial Youth Service Achievement Award from the
Siragusa Foundation. In 1998, at her 50th reunion, she was honored by
the College of New Rochelle with the Ursula Lauris Citation, “in
recognition of the many years devoted to serving her community, and her
deep and abiding commitment to others.“ In 2002 she was honored with the
Civic Award from the YMCA of Yonkers.
Mary Hotte is survived by her husband, E. Roger Hotte of Larchmont and
Manhattan, three daughters, Elise Young of Larchmont, Margaret Jednak
of Yorktown, and Clare Bournigal of Arlington, Virginia, and 12
grandchildren. Her most profound joy in life was supporting and
participating in the activities, endeavors, and professional aspirations
of her family.
Visitation at Fred McGrath & Sons, Bronxville, Wednesday, January 25 from
2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. Funeral mass at St. Augustine's Church, Larchmont,
Thursday, January 26 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to
Calvary Hospital, 1740 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10463.
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