Mrs. Mary L. Rentz

Mrs. Mary L. Rentz, of Pittsfield, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, just months before celebrating her 81st birthday. Born in Elyria, Ohio, on July 27, 1944, daughter of the late Rev. William and Zulieka Hughes Leath, she graduated from Cleveland Heights High School and later from Kent State University. In 1969, Mary earned her MFA from Northwestern University and began work as a graphic designer in Chicago, IL. After a series of moves as a U.S. Navy spouse, Mary settled her family in Pittsfield in 1976. Mary’s remarkable life in Berkshire County was one of service to others, and a joyful example of the Shaker phrase, “Hands to work, hearts to God.” Mary dedicated herself to lifting people up through the visual and performing arts. She also cooked, planned and served meals at St. Joe’s Kitchen throughout the last 25 years of her life, and was instrumental in growing the Thanksgiving Angels initiative that has provided meals to thousands of Berkshire families. Mary was involved in programs that supported Berkshire youth: as a Girl Scout leader for 10 years (troops 533 and 526), a Sunday school teacher at South Congregational Church, a volunteer art appreciation teacher in Pittsfield Public Schools, and as a volunteer at Pittsfield Skating Club. She was the Chairperson of “Sheeptacular,” a public art project in Pittsfield, as well as the “Pittsfield 250K” Celebration, and co-chairperson of “The Art of the Game.” Mary was also President of the board at Hancock Shaker Village, as well as designer and quilter of their raffle quilts and docent of Shaker music programs. She was instrumental in the success of The Center for Shaker Scholarship at Hancock Shaker Village. Mary was active in the Berkshire Art Association, which named an art scholarship in her honor. She also served on the board of Trustees at South Congregational Church. She has been honored by Pittsfield Rotary Club, Western Massachusetts Girl Scouts Council, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. In 2015, Mary received the Berkshire Award for her lifetime of service to the Berkshire community. A passionate and skilled choral singer, Mary sang alto with the South Church Choir, Berkshire Concert Choir, Berkshire Lyric Chorus, and the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. In addition to singing, she enjoyed traveling, quilting, painting and drawing. Mary is survived by Peter Rentz, her beloved husband of 58 years, whom she married August 20th, 1966. She leaves behind two daughters, Deborah Rentz-Moore (married to John Moore) of Durham, NH and Sarah Rentz (partnered with Robert Vinas, Jr.) of Wesley Hills, NY, as well as three grandsons: Gibson and Garrett Moore and Avery Vinas. Besides her parents, Mary was predeceased by her sister, Elizabeth Leath Giffin and her brother-in-law William Giffin. A musical service giving thanks for Peter and Mary Rentz’s lives will take place on August 16th, 1 PM at UCC, Pittsfield, 110 South St, Pittsfield MA 01201 In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Mary Rentz to Hankcock Shaker Village at https://hancockshakervillage.org/support/donate/ or Berkshire Art Association at https://www.berkshireartassociation.org/support

Mrs. Mary L. Rentz

July 27, 1944 - May 13, 2025