By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mrs. Rozic

MONTGOMERY - Mary K. Rozic - mother of five - made improving public education for children a centerpiece in her life.

She served on the board of Madeira City Schools and the board of directors for the National PTA.

But "being a room mother was as important to her as working on the national level," said her friend and colleague, Sharon Chandler. "She realized that there are kids out there who don't have great moms. A lot of lives were made much better because of her."

Mrs. Rozic, 76, died Sunday at Montgomery Care Center of complications following a fall. The longtime Madeira resident had suffered from Alzheimer's for four years.

"She always had a gentle, kind, wise, sweet smile," said her son Mark of Oakley. "She was kind of an iron butterfly."

Mrs. Rozic began serving as secretary of the Valley Area Council of PTAs, which represented 20 school districts, in 1977. She later served as vice president and president of the council.

In 1980 she joined the Ohio PTA board of managers as director of District 6 and served as Region II adviser in 1982.

She was the board's vice president (1983-85) and president (1985-87). She also served on the National Board of Directors from 1985 to 1987.

The Mary K. Rozic Scholarship is awarded annually to a student in one of the districts represented by the Valley Area Council.

Mrs. Rozic was on the Madeira City Schools board from 1984 to 1995, serving as vice president (1984-85) and president (1986-1995). She was also chairwoman of the board policy committee.

The city of Madeira presented her its VIP Award along with a key to the city in 2001.

She was grand marshal of the Madeira homecoming parade in 1996 and 2001.

Mrs. Rozic grew up in Camp Washington and Oakley and was a member of the Mother of Mercy High School class of 1945. She went to Edgecliff College on a scholarship and received a bachelor's degree in linguistics.

Stanley W. Rozic, her husband of 44 years, died in 1996.

In addition to her son Mark, survivors include three other sons, John and Tom, both of Oakley, and Jim of Lebanon; a daughter, Mary jo Ewald of Mason; and four grandchildren.

Visitation is 5-8 p.m. today at Thomas-Justin Funeral Home, 7500 Montgomery Road in Kenwood. The funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Gertrude Church, 6551 Miami Ave.in Madeira. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Montgomery.

Memorials: Alzheimer's Association, 644 Linn St., Cincinnati 45203; or Alois Alzheimer Center, 70 Damon Road, Cincinnati 45218.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com