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Remembering: Sister Mary Ann Luby

Good morning, Washington.

This morning, we would like to send our sincere condolences and good wishes to our friends at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. Sister Mary Ann Luby, an early board member and then staff member at WLCH, passed away on Monday night at age 70. The Washington Post wrote how Sister Mary Ann “tirelessly advocated for and reached out to the underprivileged, abused and homeless served the District’s homeless population.”

On the WLCH blog, Executive Director Patty Mullahy Fugere writes:

For those who might not know her history, Mary Ann, who was an Adrian Dominican Sister, has been involved in the Legal Clinic since our inception. As director of Rachael’s Women’s Center during the 80s and early 90s she was one of the providers we consulted back in 1985 when trying to figure out how lawyers could best serve our neighbors who are homeless. She became an early board member of the legal clinic and served in that capacity until joining our staff in 1995. Mary Ann was instrumental to the founding of Fair Budget Coalition, believing deeply in the need to work collaboratively and to support community members in lifting up their voices.

At every turn, she has challenged us to be faithful to the people whom we serve.

Sister Mary Ann was also co-founder of another Catalogue non-profit, New Endeavors by Women, and a member of numerous coalitions, including DC Advocates for Mentally Ill Homeless and Coalition of Housing and Homeless Organizations. As DCist put it this afternoon, “You don’t look very hard to realize just how amazing a woman Sister Mary Ann was.” We absolutely agree.

Once again, we are thinking of WLCH — and remembering everything that Sister Mary Ann has done to improve, empower, and inspire DC. Thank you, so very much.

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