The heavens were short on angels after Christmas and called one the day after. Mary Clare (Reilly) Mooney of West Hartford, CT passed peacefully surrounded by her family on December 26, 2017 at the age of 54. Her passing follows a six year courageous battle against cancer. She was born in 1963 in CT, daughter of Anne (Crotty) Reilly and the late Jeremiah Kenaway Reilly. She is survived by her husband, Anson Mooney, former owner of Hartford Despatch Allied Van Lines, her two beloved daughters, Shannon and Schuyler, along with her grandson, Ryder Burns Jalbert. She is also survived by her loving mother Anne, sisters Kathleen Arnold, Eileen Reilly and brother Brian Reilly all of Princeton, NJ.
Mary Clare grew up in Princeton NJ, and graduated from Stuart Country Day School of The Sacred Heart. She was instrumental in establishing a tennis program at Stuart and led the effort in fundraising to build tennis courts there. She graduated from Trinity College, Hartford CT in 1985 and was captain of her two favorite sports, tennis and lacrosse. In 1988 she married her best friend Anson and together they raised two extraordinary daughters.
She began her career at Merrill Lynch in New York City. After she moved to Hartford, CT she worked alongside her husband Anson at the Hartford Despatch. She more recently worked at Suddath International of Miami, FL and concluded her career serving as International Coordinator at S&M Moving Systems of Fremont, CA.
During her life, Mary Clare had a longing to give back, and chaired many philanthropic endeavors. She had a remarkable talent as a fund raiser. She was a former Board member of The Mark Twain House, Chaired the Cystic Fibrosis Annual gala, and was instrumental in Share Our Strength with Billy Grant of The Bricco Restaurant Group, the proceeds of which went to “No Kid Hungry”. She was a champion of Mayor Mike’s Tennis Camp for Kids. Mary Clare was also a former member of The Hartford Golf Club and YPO- Yankee Chapter .
A kind, funny, generous soul, loyal friend and loving sibling she will be greatly missed by all those she touched.
Friends and family are invited to join for a celebration of life at The Trinity College Chapel, 300 Summit St, Hartford CT. on Saturday, January 6th at 10am. The memorial service will be followed by a reception on campus. Burial will be private at the family’s request. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary Clare’s honor to Share Our Strength, P.O. Box 75475, Baltimore MD 21275-5475
