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December 2, 2005
MARY ANN ASPINWALL OWENS (1929-2005)
Mary Ann Aspinwall Owens died November 21,
2005, after a prolonged illness. She was born on June 23, 1929, in
Waukesha, Wisconsin, and was one of the founders of the Waukesha County
Philatelic Society. Mary Ann commenced thematic collecting and exhibiting
in the mid-1960s. Her award-winning exhibit on The Elephant was first
shown internationally in 1971 and went on to win a Vermeil at STOCKHOLMIA
1974, a Gold at AMERIPEX 1986, and a Large Gold at HAFNIA 1987. This was
followed by her exhibit on the Beautiful Blue Danube which received
international Golds at AUSIPEX 1987, CAPEX 1987, and PRAGA 1988.
Mary Ann was named as U.S. commissioner to
THEMABELGA 1975, the first thematic exhibition under FIP patronage held
in Brussels, Belgium, December 13-22, 1975. To promote participation, she
published a series of detailed articles in four 1975 issues of Topical
Time providing guidance for exhibitors. This resulted in her being
selected as the U.S. representative on the FIP Thematic Commission, a
position she held for more than a decade.
An ATA Life member, Mary Ann received the
ATA Distinguished Topical Philatelist award in 1969, and served as ATA
national secretary 1976-1979. She was selected in 1991 to receive the
American Philatelic Society John F. Luff award for outstanding service to
philately, and in 1993 she was honored by signing the British "Royal Roll
of Distinguished Philatelists" which entitled her to use the distinction
of "RDP."
She served from 1993 to 1997 on the
American Philatelic Society board of directors. She then filed as a
candidate as APS president but deteriorating health forced her to step
down as a candidate before the election. She also served for a time as
vice-president of the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors, and
secretary of the American Philatelic Society Writers Unit.
Mary Ann's longest series of Topical Time
articles called "Finding the Common Denominator" was introduced in the
March-April 1999 issue. This popular puzzle continued for five years
concluding in the March-April 2004 issue.
Mary Ann's many other exhibits included All
About Umbrellas which won the Reserve Grand at NTSS 2000; a 2001
gold-winning display exhibit entitled The Aspinwall Connection which
represented her growing interest in genealogy; and a single-frame exhibit
on The Badger which was published in its entirety in the
November-December 2003 issue of Topical Time. Her last of many overseas
trips was to the Pacific Explorer international exhibition in Sydney,
Australia, April 21-24, 2005, where she won a Large Silver for her
exhibit Ladybeetle, Ladybird, Ladybug.
History will probably record Mary Ann's
major philatelic achievement as her appointment in 1979 as a member of
the USPS Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee. At a 1998 retirement banquet,
the U.S. Postal Service presented her with a certificate reading in part:
"Mary Ann Aspinwall Owens has been instrumental in guiding and elevating
the standards and quality of the U.S. stamp program which will stand as a
lasting tribute to her."
"Philately and ATA has lost a great
champion," according to former ATA executive director Donald W. Smith
whose remembrance represents the entire ATA membership. "Her endeavors
for philately have been tremendous and she will be impossible to
replace."
NOTE: this tribute was composed by George
Griffenhagen – American Topical Association.
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