Class of 1972

Year Inducted 2023

Maryellen Brown lived in Drexel Hill and attended Garrettford Elementary School.  She credits her mother and father, Clara S. and John C. Brown, as well as close friends and educators for her success. Her parents provided many opportunities and experiences throughout her childhood including traveling across the country attending Porcelain Artist conventions, piano lessons and becoming a First-Class Girl Scout.

While attending Drexel Hill Junior High Maryelle participated in chorus and the Bell Choir. AT UDHS she participated in the Concert Choir, under the direction of Mr. Harold Gallagher, and had the opportunity to tour Europe with the choir in 1972.  Maryellen played field hockey, lacrosse, and shot on the Rifle team and enjoyed all subjects, especially helping the special education students, which her desire to teach began.

In the fall of 1972, Maryellen entered Lock Haven University as a dual major in Elementary and Special Education and continued her lacrosse and basketball career.  Here she also gained a greater love for Special Olympics with Dr. Peter Matthews and Dr. Mary Alice Smith. While at Lock Haven she also worked as a Dorm Counselor and served on the Dorm Council helping to get co-ed dormitories on campus.  Maryellen received her bachelor’s degree in Special Education and Elementary Education in May of 1976.

Her teaching career began at Susquenita High School in August 1976, and she taught there for 40 years and still substitutes there today. She has coached at all levels, middle school and high School, JV and Varsity, in the sports of Field Hockey, Basketball, Softball and recently Unified Champion School Bocce which is connected with Special Olympics.  She was recently inducted into the Susquenita Athletic Hall of Fame. Maryellen received her master’s degree in Special Education at Millersville University in 1980, attended Temple University receiving a principals Certification and Supervisory Certificate in Special Education in 1999. She was also named to Who’s Who in the 1980’s.

During her teaching career she continued to participate with Special Olympics and remains active today.  Maryellen has been involved with Special Olympics for 52 years filling many roles; certified coach for Special Olympics in the sports of Volleyball, Floor hockey, long distance running, Athletics (track and field); certified trainer in all of those sports along with the Courses of Coaching Special Olympics Athletes and Principles of Coaching.  Currently, she is the Sport Director for Pennsylvania in the sport of Volleyball represents Special Olympics on the 14 T Council. She have coached teams in Volleyball and Athletics at both World and National Special  Olympic Games, the most recent being the National Special Olympic Games held in Orlando Florida in 2021.

Mary Ellen was named PA Volunteer of the Year, AREA M Coach of the Year, and was inducted into the PA Special Olympics Hall of Fame in 2009.  In the Winter of 2022, she received the Annette Lynch Lifetime Achievement award from Special Olympics North America in recognition of her dedication, impact, and leadership to the athletes of Special Olympics in Pennsylvania.

In addition to Special Olympics, Maryellen has been a Girl Scout leader and volunteer for the Lions Club of Marysville, PA  and volunteers as needed in the community.