Mary Redman Hinchliffe died peacefully in her sleep March 1 at her College Walk residence in Brevard, N.C. She was 93 (two weeks shy of 94). Mary Elizabeth Redman was the youngest of three daughters of Lester Tufts Redman and Dorothea Greeley Redman. Her sisters were Dorothea and Sally. Mary was born on March 13, 1916 and grew up in Lexington, Mass., where she learned to love sports, horseback riding and New England’s natural beauty. She played basketball, tennis and golf, performed in musical comedies at The Belfry Club and attended Unitarian retreats on Star Island off Portsmouth, N.H. In her senior year, Mary was voted “the most versatile” member of her class, and (like her sisters) she was the recipient of the top college scholarship award given to a graduating senior.
Mary received her bachelor’s degree in Spanish in 1937 from Wellesley College. She played on the basketball, golf and tennis teams (playing #1 singles for all four years), and was a member of the Athletic and Spanish clubs and the Spanish debate team. After graduation she worked in the Wellesley College Information Office.
On June 15, 1940, she married John Henry Hinchliffe Jr., a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. They spent their honeymoon in Gloucester, Mass., then moved into a house designed as a wedding gift and built in Springfield, Vt. John and Mary had four children, later moving back to Lexington where they lived until 1971. Mary loved the outdoors, sports, the ocean and gardening. Her involvement in church and community affairs included volunteering as a Girl Scout leader, literacy tutor and work at the school library and Symmes Hospital. She was an expert at duplicate bridge, playing up until the day before she died, and passed her love of the game on to her children.
After John’s retirement, they moved to Hilton Head Island, S.C. with her daughter Sally MacMillan and son-in-law Chris always nearby. With John, Mary was a founding member of the Hilton Head Island Unitarian Fellowship, and she served as Secretary of the Hilton Head Unit of the American Association of University of Women. Her tennis and golf games remained impressive. One example: a hole-in-one at the #5 on Shipyard in the Hilton Head Island Women’s Golf Association Pro-Lady Tournament on May 21, 1976 – an achievement recognized in the Pinehurst, N.C. Golf Hall of Fame. While she was always happy at home, she enjoyed traveling, particularly to her summer homes in Gloucester, Mass. and New Harbor.
After John’s death at the age of 80 in 1990, Mary remained on Hilton Head Island and later followed Sally and Chris to Brevard, N.C.
Besides her daughter, Sally in Brevard and New Harbor, she is survived by sons, John (known as Terry) in Denver, Col., Roger of Portland and Richard in Glen Ridge, N.J.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Mary’s long and full life was also celebrated by sharing memories on her birthday, March 13, in a service at College Walk. Also a family gathering was held during the July 4th week on Pemaquid Trail in New Harbor.
Donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 1071, Brevard, NC 28712, or to The Haven, the proposed homeless shelter for Brevard, The Haven of Transylvania County, P.O Box 25, Brevard, NC 28712.
