John Mooney is being inducted into the Hall of Fame for his untiring dedication for many years to the Rensselaer School District and citizens of the city.
In high school John won the typing award as a freshman, and the History Award when he was a junior. He was Vice President of Student Council his senior year. Socially, we was prom prince and on dance and prom committees and a member of and officer of DECA (Distributive Education) club. Athletically, John played Intermural basketball his freshmen year and bowling for his first three years. John became a successful Real Estate Broker after graduating in 1975 and has been the leading agent in his office for Realty USA for the last 10 years. He has been a respected member of the Rensselaer community for a long time, beginning with serving elected positions of Second Ward Alderperson from 1982-93, as a member of the Youth Bureau Board of Directors from 1991-99 and as a member of the Board of Assessment and Review from 1997 to present. He also plays an active role with the Rensselaer Democratic Committee. John was elected to the Board of Education in 1998 and was elected President in 2001and has served to the present. He is a life member of the E.F. Hart Hose Fire Company and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He has also been President of the Benevolent Order of the Elks (BOE) since 2001 and has served as treasurer for the Rensselaer Athletic Association. John was highly praised and endorsed by the two School Superintendents he’s worked with, Gordon Reynolds and Sally Ann Shields and by the Democratic Committee Chair, Patrick Riley. In addition, John has always supported the efforts and activities of the Alumni Association whole-heartedly. John has lived in Rensselaer all his life with his wife, the former Laurie VanVorst ’76 where they raised their three children. They now have three grandchildren. John enjoys golf and bowling in what little spare time he has. Laurie nominated him.
Mary McNally is being inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously, for her academic and professional accomplishments, her dedication to the students of the Rensselaer School System, and her belief in preserving the history of the city of Rensselaer.
Mary, or “Miss McNally” as many of us knew her, graduated from Rensselaer High School in 1928. While in high school she was in Honor Society all four years, in Theta Sigma Nu and the class play. She graduated and went to the NYS Teachers’ College, where she graduated in 1932, with honors. She was in the Math Club while in college. Mary started her teaching career right away and never left for 41 years! Most of that time was as a High School Business Teacher. Mary was active volunteering even during her teaching years. She was a member of District 3 of the State Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs (BPW) and belonged to the Democratic Women’s Club. In the 60’s, she was appointed by Governor Harriman as a member of the Fort Crailo Memorial Commission. Mary was also a Board Member of the Rensselaer Girls Club. She was the first president of the Rensselaer Historical Society, and Chair of the Rensselaer Bicentennial Committee in 1974, helping with the parade and other activities. She was twice Regent of the Fort Crailo Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, from 1951-4 and again from 1969-71, having been a member since 1940. While Regent, she helped create the Catherine Schuyler Chapter of the Children of the American Revolution. She was also a member of the National Retired Teachers Association and the National Association of Retired Persons. Mary also served on the Board of her church, the First Reformed Church of Albany. Mary retired in 1973 and passed away at the age of 67 years young. She lived in Rensselaer all her life, never married, and was the daughter of former mayor Clarence McNally and Grace McNally. She was nominated by her niece, Denise Roberts Wright ’83, English teacher at RHS and faculty advisor to the student Alumni Club.