Mary Elizabeth Finch Larsen
Mary Elizabeth Finch Larsen, who served as secretary to founder Lucy Skidmore Scribner and three Skidmore presidents, died February 27, 1987, in Saratoga Springs. She was 89.
A lifelong resident of Saratoga Springs, Mary was born December 28, 1897, to Harvey and Abigail Winegard Finch. She graduated from Saratoga Springs High School.
Mary began working at Skidmore in 1919 as secretary to founder Lucy Skidmore Scribner, and she served in this capacity until Mrs. Scribner’s death in 1931. Mary then became secretary to Skidmore’s president, Henry T. Moore, and went to on to fill the same role for his successors Val Wilson and then Joseph Palamountain until her retirement in 1966.
Mary’s sister Abigail Finch graduated from Skidmore in 1924 and worked as a secretary at the college for many years, retiring in 1958. Another sister, Harriet Finch, worked for more than 20 years in Skidmore’s library, where she was at one-time the chief reserves assistant.
Mary was predeceased by husband Morgan Larsen in 1976. A niece survived her.