Mavis Carroll, mother of Pam Humbaugh, succumbed to pneumonia in Wilmington, NC on March 7, 2009 at the age of 91.
Mavis was a unique woman, well ahead of her time. She graduated high school at 16 and was given a full scholarship in mathematics to attend New Jersey College for Women (now Rutgers University), graduating in 1938. Her career in mathematics included actuarial analysis, code breaking during WWII for the government and managing a statistics department. Mavis was well known in the statistical field – as a member of the American Statistical Association and as a contributor to the Gordon Research Conferences.
Mavis was never at a loss to entertain herself or others. Her solitary pastimes were intellectual ones, particularly puzzles – crossword, jigsaw, crypto quotes, logic, and anagrams. A voracious reader, she had a particular bent for mysteries – which, of course, she tried to solve before finishing the book. But she also loved socializing, entertaining, cooking and playing games – charades, pictionary, liars dice, six letter word game, trivial pursuit and of course bridge. With her wealth of knowledge, you definitely wanted her on your team.
Mavis was passionate about many things, but the top two were food and traveling. She enjoyed all aspects of food – eating it, preparing it, figuring out new flavor combinations and how to creatively use leftovers.
Her love of travel took her virtually anywhere, anytime and with anyone. She liked to experience countries on her own terms – no guided tours for her. She would walk around, visit museums, admire architecture, experience local cuisine and just soak in the culture. But she also liked learning about the culture, and took advantage of educational travel through Elderhostel, making many friends that she kept contact with to this day.
Mavis is survived by her 3 daughters – Pamela Humbaugh of Wilmington NC, Kay Carroll of Litchfield CT and Patricia Hehlo of East Brunswick NJ, as well as 3 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
At Mavis’ request there will be no services. At some future date, her ashes will be spread in “her” ocean. Her love of animals led her to donate her pacemaker to a vet school. Her memory can be honored with donations to the New Hanover Humane Society, 2405 N. 23rd Street, Wilmington, NC 28401.
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