10/27/2024
Among the many contributions to telling Cape Ann stories, we are grateful that Mary Ellen worked with BHA on writing stories of Indigenous History of Places with Babson connections. We share the sadness of her loss with the Cape Ann community.
💙💙We were saddened to hear of the passing of Mary Ellen Lepionka, 81. Mary Ellen was a beloved mother, family leader, historian of Native Peoples, and so much more.
In 2024, Mary Ellen was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Gloucester Historical Commission, recognizing her “dedicated, scholarly historic research and preservation of Gloucester history and indigenous populations of Cape Ann as well as her Decisive and focused leadership at Gloucester Historical Commission, 2015-2019.”
Mary Ellen generously shared her knowledge and passion with the community in many ways. She served as a panelist in the Gloucester400+ Indigenous Heritage Film Festival, contributed a story to the Gloucester400+ Commemorative Book, and served as a storyteller in Stories Project holiday event: “Oh Starry Night”. That evening, we were delighted by Mary Ellen’s heartwarming and humorous holiday story, which she shared with a twinkle in her eye.
Thank you Mary Ellen, for raising awareness about Indigenous peoples of the past, and present. Thank you for your support of the Gloucester400+. You should be proud that your efforts inspired others to keep researching and telling the stories of Gloucester from 400+ years ago until now.
(The photo is from a Stories Project event, "Oh Starry Night" which Mary Ellen participated in during 2023.❤️)
