Marianne Elizabeth (Niejadlik) Noyd

Marianne Elizabeth Noyd was an exceptionally gifted and empathetic teacher who was beloved by her students, and she taught at both the grade school level and college level during her 35-year career. She was always eager to find new challenges and learn new things, and she loved to explore the world and its varied cultures. That outlook led her to take a teaching position in Saudi Arabia as a young woman in 1980, sparking her lifelong interest in international travel and culture. She always had a positive outlook on life and, in the words of one of her friends, was “a leader who brought people together for fun and to do good and was intelligent and curious about people and life.”

Marianne was born on March 1, 1949, in Buffalo, New York, and was the oldest child of the late Emil and Anastasia (Sporysz) Niejadlik. She had a younger sister, Margaret ‘Margie’ and a younger brother, Michael, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins that also lived in the Buffalo area. Margie predeceased Marianne in 2017.

Growing up, Marianne was outgoing and intellectually curious. She liked to play outside as a young girl, taking up ice skating and bicycling, while also becoming an avid reader. Her passion for reading and the trouble it sometimes caused in the family became one of her favorite stories as an adult. Her intellectual curiosity and ability served her well at Bishop Colton High School, where she earned membership to the National Honor Society during her senior year in 1967.

Marianne earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo in 1972, and then earned her Master of Library Science at SUNY-Buffalo in 1975.

After working for a few years in Maryland public schools, Marianne was recruited in 1980 by Saudi Aramco, the national oil company, to work as a library media specialist in their school system, where she would eventually meet her husband, Terry. Colleagues in Saudi Arabia remembered her energy, intellect, and the way she inspired countless children.

Marianne and Terry returned to Maryland in 1987, and Marianne quickly found work at Montgomery Community College in Maryland, ultimately serving for 22 years as a professor of computer applications and later as a professor of English as a second language. In the words of a former colleague and Dean: “She was a caring, creative teacher, and incredibly knowledgeable and innovative in the classroom. Her students loved her, they benefited from her amazing energy and vitality, and she was always student focused. She was honored with national teaching awards and was selected as the faculty person of the year at Montgomery College. When it is said that great teachers are born, not made, Marianne embodied the truth in that statement. She had an innate gift for teaching.”

In her leisure time Marianne loved to travel, share time with friends and family, garden, exercise, and learn new skills. She enjoyed hosting friends for elegant dinners, including several memorable Valentine-day themed dinner parties. She also was known for her wreath-making parties at Christmastime. Her travels took her and Terry all over the world and some of their favorite vacations included touring through much of Spain, including hiking the Camino Real from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela, touring the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu, cruising from Australia to China, cruising in South America and Antarctica, and touring thru much of Italy. After retiring in 2011, Marianne continued to travel extensively, enjoyed mastering Spanish and taking part in several language immersion programs in Spain, and she became passionate about the game of bridge. Retirement also led to relocations to Arlington, Virginia, and in 2017 to Durham, North Carolina.

Marianne died on December 20, 2022, at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, after a courageous battle against Guillain-Barré syndrome. She is survived by her husband Terry Coyne, her brother Michael Niejadlik and his wife Helene, her brother-in-law Tom Lawniczak, Sr., nephew Tom Lawniczak, Jr., and niece Emilee Niejadlik. She is missed by those who knew and loved her, who remember her for enthusiasm for life, her smile that would light up every room she entered, and her infectious laugh. A celebration of her life was held on December 23, 2022, at Mitchell Funeral Home in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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Marianne Elizabeth Noyd, 73, died on December 20, 2022 in Durham, NC, with her loving husband of 34 years, Terry, at her side after a courageous battle against a months-long illness.

She was born on March 1, 1949, in Buffalo, NY, and was the oldest child of Emil and Anastasia (Sporysz) Niejadlik. She earned a BA in History in 1972 and a Master of Library Science from SUNY at Buffalo in 1975. In 1980 she started teaching international students in Saudi Arabia in the school system of Aramco, the national oil company.

This began a lifelong passion for international travel and culture. She returned to the US in 1987 and lived in Rockville, MD, where she taught computer applications and English as a second language at Montgomery Community College.

After retiring in 2011, she decided to learn Spanish and the game of Bridge, becoming proficient in both. She was a remarkable and determined person who could do anything she put her mind to. Her smile would light up every room she walked into and her infectious laugh would bring joy to everyone she encountered. She will be missed by all those who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her husband Terry, brother Michael and his wife Helene, brother-in-law Tom Lawniczak, Sr., nephew Tom Lawniczak, Jr., niece Emilee Niejadlik, two grandnephews, and many cousins. She was predeceased by her parents and sister Margaret “Margie” Lawniczak.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (rarediseases.org) or to a charity of your choice.

A time of visitation will take place beginning at 11 am with spoken remembrances to begin at 12:30pm on Friday, December 23rd, at the Mitchell Funeral Home, Raleigh, NC.