Gutsy. Feisty. Full of gumption. These words have all been used to describe Mary Clark’s amazing life. In her 80-plus years, three things, Mary says, have provided her with a framework for living: a personality equipped to overcome adversity, a loving support system, and a lot of faith in little miracles along the way.

Mary Clark was born in 1924, the sixth of eight children born to Paula and Harry Clark near Donwell, Saskatchewan, Canada. The family owned and operated a farm, growing mixed grains and raising horses (up to 130 at one time!). As a young girl growing up on the farm, her loving family and caring neighbors surrounded Mary. “Back then, people depended on each other. At threshing time there was so much to do that we needed the neighbors to help. Women cooked and men did the work. Up there, everyone knows everything about you—your history, your illnesses. I missed that when I moved to the city. If someone got sick, neighbors would come and help. That’s how they survived.”

At the age of four, Mary contracted a virus that settled in the tip of her lower spine, resulting in the total paralysis of her right leg, and the partial paralysis of her left leg. Her parents were perplexed until nine or ten months later when doctors made the devastating diagnosis of polio. “Back then, where we lived,” Mary says, “we didn’t really know about the polio virus and how it spread.”

“It was all I had.”
Mary’s father brought her to a Shriner’s hospital in Winnepeg, about 350 miles from home, and left her there in the care of doctors and nurses who might improve the functioning of her legs. Her father was only able to stay briefly, and when he reluctantly left to tend to the farm and remaining family, he left her with a little red belted sweater. The four-year-old Mary treasured the sweater, her only connection to her family so far away. But one night, after she had placed her beloved sweater under her pillow, a nurse came in to change the bedding and took it away. “I was so upset, I got hysterical. It was all I had!” Mary recalls. Luckily, the sweater was quickly retrieved and returned to little Mary.
Mary remembers being well cared for at the hospital, especially by Dr. Murray, a big, rough looking man resembling Gary Cooper or John Wayne. “He took to me…he was like my second dad.” He used to lift Mary up, tuck her under his arm, and take her on rounds with him.“I was not going to be left out.”

Mary stayed at the hospital for the next twelve years, visiting home once a year or so for two or three months, “…so that I wouldn’t forget my family.” Mary was determined to do everything that her siblings and friends did. Amazingly, she played hockey and baseball as a child. The other children were very accepting of her and included her in everything. “Two boys would carry me onto the ice and I would sit on the ice,” says Mary, “I was the goalkeeper. Even then I was constantly participating in whatever anyone else was doing. I was not going to be left out.” In baseball, “I would be the hitter and someone else would run for me.” Because her arms were strong from using crutches all the time, she was a good hitter—so good the other kids nicknamed her ‘Babe Ruth’. “I was a good sport,” says Mary. The kids teased her often—once they even put snakes in her pockets!
Mary loved her visits home until the telegram would arrive from her doctors, asking Mary’s parents to send her back to perform yet another surgery. Mary survived her twelve years of hospitalization by drawing on the strength she received from the love given to her by her family and friends, by her faith in God, and by her undeniable determination to be as independent as possible. Mary has always believed in herself, and in her capabilities. “I was so assertive, even then.” There was a Brownie troop at the hospital and Mary put on many shows. “I was always into everything and aware of everything. I always thought I was special.”

“If I want anything, I have to work hard to overcome it.”
When Mary was about fifteen, on one of her breaks from the hospital, a friend of her father’s purposely left his cane in her room. She’d been using crutches, but her mother warned that she’d never be able to wear pretty clothes, as the crutches ruined them. Mary looked at that cane and decided that if she learned to walk with it, the pretty clothes would follow. For eight hours that day she practiced. At dinner she came in and announced, “I’m never picking up crutches again!” She didn’t. “What determination,” Mary says, “I was stubborn even then.”
At the age of sixteen, Mary was finally ready to leave the hospital permanently. She met with Dr. Murray who briefly laid out what life would be like for her. It was then that Dr. Murray spoke the words that would resonate all her life: “Attempt the end. Never stand to doubt. Nothing is so hard, but search will find it out.” Mary stated, “Every time I get frustrated I think of this”. Dr. Murray taught her to never give up, to keep trying until she accomplished what she wanted. “Everyone is handicapped in some form or another,” he told her, “only yours shows.” Mary remembered this always.
Mary always felt that she was loved, cared for and accepted, both at the hospital and at home. Her youthful experiences combined with her independent and determined personality provided a strong foundation and empowered her to create a successful, exciting and fulfilling adult life.

A life-changing decision.
When Mary was about eighteen or nineteen years old, she visited her sister in Toronto, a booming 1940’s city with many opportunities. Having grown up in the country, Mary was in awe of Toronto. She enrolled at Radio College of Canada, a decision that would shape the course of her life. She was awarded a second-class license to run the telegraph, but she was underage and her parents would not sign permission for her to work. Against her parent’s wishes, she decided to stay in Toronto. Her parents loved her dearly, but her mother had missed her so much during her long hospital stays that she became especially protective and didn’t want her to leave home. But Mary did not want to be ‘stuck’ in a room at her home. She wanted a life – a career!

At radio school, Mary was always the leader. Everyone wanted to belong to her club. Once, she had to give a speech in front of the class. “I thought I would do something funny,” Mary said. Instead, the instructor became angry and gave Mary a quick lesson in humility in front of the class. Mary was very embarrassed, but after much thought she realized the lesson she’d been taught.

“You have to go after what you want.”
Mary worked in radio for five years in Toronto. Always busy, she also attended the Lorne Greene acting school and tended switchboard at Maple Leaf Stadium to supplement her income. She then decided to pursue a job in a new and exciting field, television. Since the opportunities might be greater in the United States, she decided to apply for positions there. Alone, Mary took a train to Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and then took a taxi across the border into Detroit. She went to a downtown hotel with a roll of coins, set herself up in a telephone booth and began making calls to television stations hoping to make interview appointments. When her coins ran out, she returned to Toronto.

“More guts than brains.”
Mary was a risk-taker. She was never afraid. “More guts than brains,” her sister always said. But Mary had both. She was offered jobs in Detroit, Indianapolis, and Chicago. She chose the Detroit job, although the position was not readily available. For three months she worked for a company employing temporary employees. It was a good experience for Mary and she really got to know the city of Detroit better. One of her “Kelly Girl” jobs took her to the Institute for the Blind, where she learned many lessons from people with a handicap of a different kind. They were always well dressed, she recalled, and women even applied their own makeup. They would always do things for themselves, striving to be independent. Just like Mary.

“I want to be a star.”
Many of the companies she worked for as a “Kelly Girl” wanted to hire her full time. But Mary had bigger plans. “No, I want to be a star.” Finally, the station was ready for her. She started off in accounting and later moved to production continuity, traffic and sales. She was responsible for all commercials on the air. It was a stressful position, so busy and so last minute that any mistakes would cost a lot of money!
Moving to Detroit was difficult for Mary at first. This time, she was very far from her family. The people were different from those in rural Saskatchewan. Her co-workers at the television station were a bit “artsy and dramatic…their morals were different.” In the beginning, Mary says, she didn’t fit in. But Mary, always adaptable, found that once she got to know them and learned what to expect from them, they became good friends – like a second family.
Mary had many friends at TV2, and many others who have helped her along the way. She credits the local bank manager as one of her most important mentors, as he provided the financial advice that enabled her to purchase her home in Clawson, Michigan in 1965. Her many friends met regularly at her house for parties. Mary always had a lot of company. She continues today to keep in touch with her family as well as her friends.
Many supportive people have played significant roles in Mary’s life. Because Mary has always relied on her faith, one person who was very important to her was the Dean at St. Paul’s Cathedral. As a religious counselor at this magnificent historical church, he was a great help in guiding her.

“...little angels have made a trail for you.”
“I believe in pre-destiny,” says Mary, “When you are born, God has already planned the rest of your life. When you wonder why things happened, you realize that there have been little miracles, and little angels have made a trail for you.” Mary often turns to her faith in God when she gets frustrated. “A lot of times, when you ask for strength, it works! I do not think, ‘why me?’ or feel sorry for myself.” Mary feels that everything is in God’s plan, and that when we are given challenges, it is what we do with those challenges that give us strength.
In 2000, Mary was diagnosed with lymphoma and was given three weeks to live. Mary knew it was not her time. She was not ready yet. Many people were praying for her, and like so many times before, Mary fought for herself. She recovered.

“God has been so good to me…I want to make things better for others. I want to leave this place better than I found it. I have big dreams for the future…it’s not over yet.”

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