It is with sadness that we inform you that Mary Lindgren, a former director of Camp Ma-He-Tu, passed
away in June. Mary served as the Director of camp from 1973 – 1975. She previously served in other
staff roles prior to being Director. Mary met her husband Andy while working at camp – he worked at our
former brother camp, Camp Trexler.
After starting a family, Mary served for many years on the camp Board of Directors. She worked tirelessly
on the Personnel Committee. Mary and Andy’s daughters, Kristen and Katie, both attended camp as
campers and were also on staff.

Sincerest condolences from our community go to Andy, Kristen and Katie. Please see the obituary below which was published in the West Caldwell Progress.

Mary E. Lindgren, 72, long-time West Caldwell resident, retired teacher
Mary E. Lindgren, age 72, of Venice, FL, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 4, 2020 from
glioblastoma.

Born in New York, Mary was raised in Mount Kisco, NY and graduated from Fox Lane High School. Mary
graduated from Wittenberg University with a degree in English. She later received a Master’s degree in
Reading from Montclair State University as well as certification as an educational media specialist.
For over 25 years, Mary was an outstanding educator in New Jersey public schools. Her career included
teaching English at Grover Cleveland Junior High School and teaching GED in night school in West
Caldwell. She spent the majority of her teaching career at West Essex Junior High. Mary had a life-long
love of reading, which led her to specialize as a reading teacher and ultimately, as the school’s librarian
and media specialist. She instilled a passion for reading in her students and colleagues – including those
who joined book clubs she helped to establish. Outside of work, she volunteered as a chaperone for the
youth choir tours with the First Presbyertian Church at Caldwell. She retired in 2004.

A long-time resident of West Caldwell, Mary and her husband relocated to Venice, Florida where they
spent close to a decade. Mary volunteered at the local library, started multiple book clubs, and enjoyed
time with new and old friends as well as visits from her family.

Family and friends fondly remember Mary for her beautiful smile, kindness, generosity, and great book
recommendations. She is survived by her brothers, Walter and John Ludwig; her husband, Andrew
Lindgren; her daughters, Kristen Lindgren and Katie Soroye; and her six beloved grandchildren, Ted and
Alice Kulstad-Lindgren and Dorothea, Isaac, Ella, and Miles Soroye.

Mary was a long-standing supporter of girls’ camping. She worked as a counselor and director at Camp
Ma-He-Tu and later served on the Ma-Tu’s Board of Directors. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made
in her name to Camp Ma-He-Tu’s Keep the Campfires Burning or the Camp Ma-He-Tu Endowment
Fund.