Mary Ann Duke Salzer
February 26, 1952 – January 16, 2020
Mary Ann Duke Salzer, 67, passed away peacefully in her home in Jacksonville, FL on Thursday, January 16, 2020. Mary Ann is survived by her sons: Paul Salzer (Caitlin) and John Salzer (Georgina); partner: Terry Dennis; brother: Stephen Duke; niece: Lisa Duke; and grandchildren: Silas Salzer, Colin Salzer, Jocelyn Salzer and Miles Salzer, all of Jacksonville, FL. Mary Ann is preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Salzer and parents, Paul Francis and Mary Kathryn Duke.
Mary Ann was born in Uniontown, PA and raised on Jacksonville’s Northside on Heckscher Drive. She graduated from Andrew Jackson High School and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of North Florida.
Mary Ann worked for Bellsouth for many years and then changed careers to become an elementary school teacher in Nassau County, FL. Her true passion was teaching students enrolled in Exceptional Student Education (ESE) programs. Mary Ann loved her students and was enthusiastic about crafting exciting projects and field trips for them. She had a “go big or go home” mentality – when studying robotics, none other than the SWAT team would do. For a lesson about flight, she arranged for life flight paramedics to land their helicopter in the school parking lot.
Mary Ann was an incredible woman who loved her family beyond measure. She was fiercely proud of her sons and grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them. Mary Ann loved traveling, spending time with dear friends and antiquing. She had a keen knack for finding and collecting shark’s teeth and began amassing her incredible collection as young child. She also made the best hand-picked crab dip and deviled eggs this side of the Mississippi.
Mary Ann’s family and friends will miss her tremendously and rejoice in her life.
Mary Ann Salzer’s Memorial Service will be held Friday, February 21, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. at St. John’s Cathedral, 256 East Church Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary Ann’s memory to White Oak Conservation (whiteoakwildlife.org) or the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens (jacksonvillearboretum.org).
Arrangements have been entrusted to Evergreen Cemetery, Funeral Home and Crematory
10 Comments
Dear Paul, John and families,
Your mother was a dear friend and we shared many things over the years especially during Salzer Celebrations.
She will be missed.
All our love in Christ,
Grover and Emma Salzer
Mary Ann you will be greatly missed my friend. I’ll cherish all our great times teaching at Callahan Intermediate School and then the county gifted program. You were a blessing to all the children you have taught over the years and to all the educators that were fortunate to have the chance to teach with. God has a special place for you in heaven and I bet it involves working with children. ❤️
I have such wonderful memories of Mary Ann’s warm smile and can still hear her ready laugh. I will cherrish the time working together at Yulee Elementary School, always. Rest in peace, my friend.
A new angel has been brought to heaven. It was my great honor and privilege to have been a friend and colleague at Callahan Intermediate School to Mary Ann. She had her classroom next to mine and I would love talking to her, sharing stories about our families. Teaching was definitely her most treasured passion. I will always remember her since our names are spelled almost the same way. We would get each other’s mail and I had to tell callers that I was not the Mary Ann they were looking for. May God comfort her family and hold them in the palm of His hands. We will all meet again and enjoy talking about our lives that were full of love. Goodbye for now my dear friend. Love, Mary Ann Salis.
Dear Paul, John and Family,
We are so sorry about Mary Ann and know what a heart breaking loss this is for you.
We extend our deepest sympathies and our prayers to you.
In Christian Love,
Bill and Susan Salzer
Dearest family, so sorry for your loss. Mary Ann.
was a bright light and her smile and sweetness
will be missed. Love to all
I’m so sorry for loss. Mrs. Salzer was such a kind a loving women and teacher. Fly high angel <3
I went to high school with Mary Ann and graduated with her in 1970. We were good buddy’s, shared classes while there and usually sat next to one another. Unlike me, she was an excellent student. She was very smart, witty and one of the sweetest, kindest persons I’ve ever met. Always humble and quiet, she excelled without fanfare and graduated with honors. Having our 50th reunion this weekend, I was anxiously hoping to see Mary Ann, but was heartbroken tonight to learn of her passing. I pray that Mary Ann led a happy and fulfilling life and that everyone who knew her appreciated her wonderful self as much as I did. My prayers to family and friends for peace and comfort. She was a wonderful person.
Mary Ann and I met on our first day of junior high at Oceanway in seventh grade and became great friends for the remainder of our school years. I remember her as a good student, extremely funny, kind, quiet in class, a good friend. We lost touch after we married and had children, through no fault of hers, and went our separate ways. I’ve thought of her often over the years and wondered what she was up to, but sadly never reconnected. It is my hope that her life was full of love and happiness. My prayers are with your family, Mary Ann. You were a wonderful person and once in a lifetime friend.
mrs. salzer, as i knew her, was my gifted teacher and she had a big impact in my life, im sorry for your loss.
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