Senate Resolution No. 1540

BY: Senator RITCHIE

MOURNING the death of Mary Lou Rupp, St. Lawrence
County Clerk, distinguished citizen and devoted
member of her community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body mourns the death of Mary
Lou Rupp, St. Lawrence County Clerk, distinguished citizen and devoted
member of her community; and

WHEREAS, Mary Lou Rupp of Ogdensburg, New York, who lived her life
with dignity, character and grace, died on May 1, 2019, at the age of
61; and

WHEREAS, She was born on December 12, 1957, the daughter of William
J. and Dorothy (Livingston) Simms; Mary Lou graduated from Heuvelton
Central School and continued her education at Potsdam State University
where she earned a bachelor's degree; she later married William J. Rupp
on May 21, 1983; and

WHEREAS, She began work in 1980, with Jreck Subs, and later went on
to own and operate five franchise stores in the Central New York area
over the next 10 years; in 1992, Mary Lou and her husband owned and
operated, Simply Sandwiches, a popular Ogdensburg restaurant, which the
couple operated for 13 years; and

WHEREAS, In 2003, Mary Lou Rupp joined the staff of the New York
State Department of Motor Vehicles in Canton, New York, first as a
clerk, then quickly rising to the position of Deputy County Clerk in
2008; and

WHEREAS, Four years later, Mary Lou Rupp was elected to the position
of St. Lawrence County Clerk; she would be reelected in 2016; as County
Clerk, she developed a countywide Veterans' ID program that provided
business discounts to men and women who served in the Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, Mary Lou Rupp's commitment to excellence, and her spirit of
humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including
charitable and civic endeavors; and

WHEREAS, Mary Lou Rupp was an active member of the Galillee United
Methodist Church and a strong advocate for Donate Life, a program
designed to encourage people to donate organs; her hard work and
devotion to the people of St. Lawrence County led to a number of
accolades, including the Betsy Kaplan Award, the Alumni of the Year
Award from the Heuvelton Alumni Association, and she was selected for
the New York State Senate Women of Distinction Award; and

WHEREAS, Predeceased by her father, William; brother, Dale; and two
nephews Michael and Tyler; Mary Lou Rupp is survived by her husband,
William; daughters, Abbie (Kevin) and Kelsie (fiance Dominic); her
mother, Dorothy; brothers, John (Julie), and Jay (Robin); sisters,
Barbara (Dave), Janet (Mark), and Janice (Rick); and two grandchildren,
Connor and Cora; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and

WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Mary Lou Rupp leaves behind a legacy which will long endure
the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all she
served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Mary Lou Rupp, St. Lawrence County Clerk,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of her community; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Mary Lou Rupp.