Obituary of Mary M Tongue

Remembering Mary Tongue. . . Mary M. Tongue succumbed to a neurodegenerative illness on Friday, May 13, 2016, in the presence of her daughter in NYC. She was 92 years old. In recent years, in addition to her daughter, she had been cared for by two special companions, Anita Seelall and Sister Maureen Conway, along with a loving staff at Amsterdam Nursing Home, who became like family. She was born in Little Falls, NY in 1924, the daughter of James Edward McEvoy and Katherine Volz McEvoy. She attended St. Mary’s Academy and graduated from Boston University’s Sargent College of Physical Education. She moved to NYC after college and use her physical education degree in a career with the Richard Hudnut Salon and the DuBarry Success School, where she coordinated programs for women integrating poise, diet and movement. Later she was chosen by an innovative women’s program designer, Ann Delafield, to travel and pilot programs for women to give them the tools of self-esteem and presence in order to be able to enter the workforce. She was handpicked by Elizabeth Arden to create exercise and posture courses that were featured in Vogue and McCalls. While living in the West Village, she was exposed to new trends in jazz and art. A friend introduced her to Richard Tongue. They dated and in 1953, they were married in Our Lady’s Chapel at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and settled on the Upper East Side. They welcomed their daughter Nancy into the world in 1958. In the 1960’s Mary discovered her passion for abstract painting, joining the Art Student’s League, and eventually becoming a lifetime member. She studied with a wide range of painters including Don Stacy, Hans Hoffmann, Robert Motherwell, Bill Scharf, Richard Pousette Dart, Knox Martin, Larry Poons and Bruce Dorfman. She exhibited in NY, CT, FL, OR. In the 1970s Mary obtained a Master’s degree in Counseling from Fairfield University and a Certificate in Art Therapy through the NY Institute of Sociotherapy. She worked in private practice, as well as in psychiatric hospitals, and integrated Jungian philosophy, Eastern thought and Christianity into her painting and therapy approaches. In an artist statement she wrote, “My paintings represent my effort to express universal feelings and experiences through my personal ones – to reveal common elements shared by others on a collective unconscious level.” She also loved the quote by Robert Motherwell, “The subject does not pre-exist. It emerges out of the interaction between the artist and the medium.” She explored religion through history and culture. Contemplative prayer was an important component of her life, as was studying the works of Fr. Thomas Keating, meditating with Zen and Catholic prayer groups. She was a Catholic who was most at home in Jesuit communities. Throughout her life Mary enjoyed camping, tennis, skiing and horseback riding. Although Manhattan was where she felt most at home, Mary loved exploring the isolated islands, rocks, and woods along the coast of Maine where the family had a cottage. As a mother, she was always ready with a creative and fun project for her daughter and her friends. She retained her sense of humor and style, along with her natural wholesomeness until the end. She brought a sense of elegance, grace and kindness to all who knew her. Her husband of 50 years, Richard B. Tongue predeceased her in 2004. She leaves her sister, Catherine Engle of Utica, her daughter, Nancy E. Tongue, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Her sister-inlaw, Marian McEvoy resides in Little Falls. She was predeceased by her brother Robert McEvoy and sister Anne McDonald. A Mass of Christian burial will be held in Lady Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola, New York, NY on May 31 at 10:30 am followed by a luncheon on the premises. Cremains will be interred in St. Mary's Cemetery, Town of Herkimer, NY in mid-June attended by the family. A small amount of ashes will be dispersed, along with those of her husband during the summer off the coast of Maine.