1930
Mary
2015
Mary L. Custer
November 7, 1930 — December 21, 2015
The family of Mary Louise Custer regretfully announces her peaceful passing on December 21, 2015 at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, CA from complications due to congestive heart failure related to Alzheimer's disease. She recently celebrated her 85th birthday.
Mary Louise Custer's true loves in life were her children, grandchildren, and the city where she made her home since 1964—Carson, California. She was integrally involved in the drive for cityhood in the years preced¬ing the city's incorporation in 1968. She was also the founding chair of the Carson Beautiful Committee, which won gubernatorial recognition for spearheading a city beautification campaign that became a model for other California cities. Ms. Custer subsequently became the first woman to chair any Carson commission, when she was elected Chair of the Carson Environmental Commission in 1975. She was also a longtime, active member of the Carson and Dominguez Women's clubs.
In 1984, Mary Louise Custer was elected City Treasurer of Carson. She was reelected in 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998. She retired in 2000, following a successful fight against breast cancer.
Mary Louise Custer was long active in Democratic Party politics and campaigns, beginning in 1960 when she anchored a field operation in the north Long Beach area for John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign. Later, she was a member of the Long Beach Democratic Club, the Los Angeles County Democratic Party Central Committee, and the California State Democratic Party. She was twice elected Southern Secretary of the California Democratic Party in the mid-1980s and was a delegate to several Democratic Party National Conventions. Her association with organized labor was longstanding and of mutual support.
Mary Louise Custer was born Mary Louise Gallo in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Vandergrift High School, then acquired business administration and technical skills at Morris Business College in Pittsburgh, prior to locating to California, where she started a family, later earning her Associate's degree at L.A. Harbor College and her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from CSUDH. During her professional career she held positions in business administration and management, accounting, finance, real estate development and sales, as well as legislative affairs for a member of the California Legislature. She took advanced courses in municipal finance and achieved multiple certifications from the California Municipal Treasurers Association and Municipal Treasurers of the U.S. and Canada during her tenure at Carson City Hall.
Mary Louise Custer is survived by her five children and four grandchildren, as well as her sister and brother. She was preceded in death by her father, Ortensio "Arthur" Gallo (1904-1992) and mother Violet Ann Gienopie Gallo (1913-2008).
A public memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 2, 2016 at Green Hills Memorial Park and Cemetery (27501 S. Western Ave., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 (310-521-4333)).
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Tribute to Mary Louise Custer to the Alzheimer's Association through their website ( http://act.alz.org ) or by phoning Donor Services at 312-335-8700.
Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275
Mary Louise Custer's true loves in life were her children, grandchildren, and the city where she made her home since 1964—Carson, California. She was integrally involved in the drive for cityhood in the years preced¬ing the city's incorporation in 1968. She was also the founding chair of the Carson Beautiful Committee, which won gubernatorial recognition for spearheading a city beautification campaign that became a model for other California cities. Ms. Custer subsequently became the first woman to chair any Carson commission, when she was elected Chair of the Carson Environmental Commission in 1975. She was also a longtime, active member of the Carson and Dominguez Women's clubs.
In 1984, Mary Louise Custer was elected City Treasurer of Carson. She was reelected in 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998. She retired in 2000, following a successful fight against breast cancer.
Mary Louise Custer was long active in Democratic Party politics and campaigns, beginning in 1960 when she anchored a field operation in the north Long Beach area for John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign. Later, she was a member of the Long Beach Democratic Club, the Los Angeles County Democratic Party Central Committee, and the California State Democratic Party. She was twice elected Southern Secretary of the California Democratic Party in the mid-1980s and was a delegate to several Democratic Party National Conventions. Her association with organized labor was longstanding and of mutual support.
Mary Louise Custer was born Mary Louise Gallo in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Vandergrift High School, then acquired business administration and technical skills at Morris Business College in Pittsburgh, prior to locating to California, where she started a family, later earning her Associate's degree at L.A. Harbor College and her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from CSUDH. During her professional career she held positions in business administration and management, accounting, finance, real estate development and sales, as well as legislative affairs for a member of the California Legislature. She took advanced courses in municipal finance and achieved multiple certifications from the California Municipal Treasurers Association and Municipal Treasurers of the U.S. and Canada during her tenure at Carson City Hall.
Mary Louise Custer is survived by her five children and four grandchildren, as well as her sister and brother. She was preceded in death by her father, Ortensio "Arthur" Gallo (1904-1992) and mother Violet Ann Gienopie Gallo (1913-2008).
A public memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 2, 2016 at Green Hills Memorial Park and Cemetery (27501 S. Western Ave., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 (310-521-4333)).
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Tribute to Mary Louise Custer to the Alzheimer's Association through their website ( http://act.alz.org ) or by phoning Donor Services at 312-335-8700.
Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275
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