Mary was born in Orange, New Jersey, on January 28, 1939. She was the third of four children born to Lillian Mae (nee Brown) and Herman Valentine Fischer. Mary spent most of her youth growing up in East Orange, New Jersey, where she enjoyed playing sports, including her favorite sport, Roller Derby. While in high school, Mary was the first female referee of a basketball game in her town. During her senior year in high school, Mary moved to Pensacola Beach, Florida. Mary cherished that special time in her life, spent with her mother and her little sister, Susan. Pensacola Beach is also where Mary met her Navy husband, Robert James (“Bob”) Cuff III. Mary and Bob were married on March 26, 1960. Mary and Bob were married for nearly 35 years before Bob’s passing in March of 1995. Mary and Bob loved raising their 4 sons and daughter. In 1970, they moved to Seminole, Florida. Eventually, they opened Cuff’s Place, a sandwich shop on Seminole Boulevard. Mary often remarked what a blessing it was to own a sandwich shop while raising 4 boys! Mary spent many nights at the SYAA little league field, moving from field to field while watching her sons play baseball. Mary loved her family and was the biggest fan of each of her 5 children, and later grandchildren. Eventually, Mary pursued a career in graphic design, most notably at Val-Pak where she retired after working nearly 20 years. Mary spent her retirement years creating beautiful photo albums for her children and grandchildren and watching professional baseball. Mary always encouraged her children and grandchildren to pursue their dreams. She always maintained a quiet strength.
Mary will be dearly missed by her 5 children: Dan of Seminole, Florida, Tom (Lilee) of Covington, Louisiana, Gary (Shu Chen) of Herndon, Virginia, Bob (Luz) of Seminole, Florida and Donna (James) Martinez of Frisco, Texas, and her sister, Susan (George) Fritz, of Franklin, North Carolina. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Sean (Josie) Cuff, Alan Cuff, Angela Cuff, Erin Martinez, Kelly Martinez, and Kevin Martinez, in addition to many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her brother Herman (“Bud”) V. Fischer, Jr, sister in law, Marilyn Fischer, sister Anne Bringsauf, and grandson William Cuff.
Mary’s advice to future generations was to “follow your dreams with integrity, don’t ever let fear of failure hold you back, and know there will be bumps on the road that you will have to overcome, but you will always overcome them because you have the strong support of your family.”
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the American Cancer Society or to your favorite charity in Mary's honor.
DONATIONS
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18