Mary Powers, a leader and beloved colleague of Peru’s foreign press community, died Friday, Jan. 9, at home after a long illness. She was 54.
Mary was born in Springfield, Mass., the daughter of the late Thomas “Jinx” and Harriet Powers of West Springfield. Mary attended St. Thomas School and graduated from Cathedral High School. She went on to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where she received her BA in Spanish and Journalism in 1978. Mary began a long and successful journalism career in Latin America including reporting , editing and bureau chief assignments in Lima, Peru, Mexico City , San Juan, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C and New York City.
Mary worked for Reuters, the Associated Press and Bridge news services and contributed articles to many major magazines, newspapers and wire service publications.
For the last two decades, Mary has made her “second home” in Lima, Peru where she was president of the Foreign Press Association and where she enthusiastically shared her love of Peru, its beauty and its culture with all who would come to visit.
Mary leaves behind a large and loving family: her siblings JoAnne of Quincy, Tom and his wife Ellen of Medway, Cathy and her husband Paul of Wilbraham and Atty. Michael and his wife Lisa of Westfield as well as her cherished nieces and nephews Jenny , Lindsay, Emily, Adam, Michael and Mackenzie and grand nephew Joshua. Mary will also be remembered by a large family of friends and journalism colleagues in the US, Peru and beyond and by her faithful yellow Labrador retriever, Tika.
A memorial service will be held at St. Cecilia’s Church, 42 Main St. in Wilbraham, MA on Saturday, January 31 at 11:00AM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory (Mary Bernadette Powers) may be made to Children’s Hospital Boston, One Autumn St. #731 , Boston, MA 02215 or at www.chtrust.org.
