Assembly Resolution No. 259

BY: M. of A. Salka

MOURNING the death of Marian Leona Goddard Mullet,
a devoted wife and mother, distinguished citizen and
dedicated member of her community

WHEREAS, It is with profound sorrow that this Legislative Body,
representing the people of the State of New York, is moved this day to
pay tribute to an eminent woman of indomitable faith and dedication
whose public service and countless accomplishments will forever stand as
a paradigm and inspiration for others; and

WHEREAS, Marian Leona Goddard Mullet of Oneonta, New York, whose
unremitting passion for family and community defined her life, died on
March 17, 2019, at the age of 91; and

WHEREAS, As the founder and first CEO of Pathfinder Village in
Edmeston, New York, Marian L. Mullet worked tirelessly to achieve her
vision "that each life may find meaning"; and

WHEREAS, Born on March 23, 1927, in East Hartford, Connecticut,
Marian L. Mullet earned a bachelor's degree in nursing in 1950, from
Bates College where she met her future husband, Frank; and

WHEREAS, Upon Frank's return from World War II, the young couple
married and moved to upstate New York, where they pursued their dream of
raising a family in the bucolic setting of the small town of Edmeston;
and

WHEREAS, In addition to raising her family of four children, Marian
L. Mullet nurtured other passions, including raising horses, breeding
championship Irish Setters and working at the Otsego School, a home for
individuals with Down syndrome; and

WHEREAS, When the Otsego School faced changing requirements for care
of the disabled, Marian L. Mullet led an ambitious multimillion-dollar
development project which transformed the Otsego School into Pathfinder
Village, an internationally recognized residential community for
children and adults with Down syndrome and other developmental
disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Marian L. Mullet truly believed all people, regardless of
ability, should have a wonderful home and a fulfilling life of social,
educational, religious and work opportunities; and

WHEREAS, With a steadfast and unwavering commitment to her
community, Marian L. Mullet served on the boards of several
organizations, including the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home, the State
University of New York at Oneonta Foundation and the Scriven Foundation;
and

WHEREAS, Marian L. Mullet and her husband established The Thomas
Frank Mullet Foundation in memory of their son, Tom, who died from
cancer at the age of 19; the foundation gives annual awards benefiting

the people and organizations of Edmeston and its surrounding
communities; and

WHEREAS, After retirement, Marian L. Mullet, along with her
daughter, Martha, and granddaughter, Deborah, researched, wrote and
published, Richard Andrew: Called to Paint, a fully illustrated
biography of the artist whose paintings include portraits of Marian's
family, as well as New England mountain vistas and shores; and

WHEREAS, Marian L. Mullet was the proud recipient of numerous awards
and accolades, including The Paul Harris Fellow (1985), an honorary
doctor of laws from Bates College (1988), a New York State Woman of
Distinction Award (2000), the Otsego County Chamber Distinguished
Citizen of the Year (2002), a feature in the PBS series "Visionaries,"
and an honorary doctor of laws from the State University of New York at
Oneonta (2002); and

WHEREAS, Predeceased by her parents, Harvey and Marguerite; a son,
Thomas; and siblings, Harvey, Ralph and Arthur, Marian L. Mullet is
survived by her devoted husband of 68 years, Frank; sister, Elizabeth;
brother, Stephen; three children, John (Debra), Martha (Martin) and
James (Pamela); seven grandchildren, Sarah, Deborah, Elizabeth, Ian,
Hillary, Benjamin and Adam; and seven great-grandchildren, Brianna,
Sophia, Kenneth, Levi, Caitlyn, Gavin and Lydia; and

WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Marian L. Mullet 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 Marian Leona Goddard Mullet, a devoted wife and
mother, distinguished citizen and dedicated member of her community; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Marian Leona Goddard Mullet.