Mary-Helen McMahon

Mary-Helen McMahon passed away peacefully the morning of April 12^th at the age of 68 surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband of 42 years Kevin; son Jack, daughter-in-law Katy and grandson Bastian; her sisters Susan and Kathy; her brother David and several nieces and nephews.      

 Mary-Helen was born In New Jersey and moved to Massachusetts as a young child growing up in Weston. In high school she was on the field hockey team, a majorette – leading the squad her senior year, and a lifeguard. An excellent student, she went to college at Middlebury in Vermont and was on the synchronized swimming team, enjoyed skiing, spent a year abroad in Paris and a semester abroad in Madrid graduating with degrees in French and Spanish.

 She followed in her father’s footsteps working in the insurance business focusing on international benefits and working in New York City. She met Kevin by happenstance on the train to Jones Beach and after dating for two years they were married in Weston and moved the next day to San Francisco settling in Burlingame in the 80’s. The move coincided with her opening an international benefits consulting practice for her firm in San Francisco where she worked with many early-stage tech firms.

 A year after Jack was born she decided to focus on being a full-time mother. She became active in the community: was President of the Burlingame Mothers Club when Jack was young, and then worked on various fund-raising projects with BCE as well as a stint on the Burlingame Library Foundation.

 After her diagnosis with breast cancer in 2003 she began coaching other women through the difficult process as a volunteer with the Bay Area Cancer Connections.

 She also spent a few years teaching nutrition and diet as well as working as a strength trainer.

 Mary-Helen lived her life with grace, courage, a generous heart and loved her family and friends. She also found enjoyment in gardening, reading (mainly mysteries), and travel with highlights swimming with sea turtles in the Galapagos and holding a koala in Australia.

 In lieu of flowers donations may be in her name to the Bay Area Cancer Connections.

Family and friends will gather to celebrate her life at a Memorial Service to be held at 1:00 pm Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the CROSBY – N. GRAY & CO. Funeral Home, 2 Park Road, Burlingame.