Mary Beth Mazzarella, 70, of Vero Beach, passed away on April 8, 2014.
She is survived by her son Roberto Pier- Francesco Mazzarella; mother Viva Clay; sister Barbara Cavender; and many other family and friends.
She was preceded in death by his father Robert A. Clay, and brother James J. Clay.
Mazzarella was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, then moved with her family to Vero Beach, where she graduated from Vero Beach High School in 1961.
She was Miss Hibiscus 1961. She attended Agnes Scott College in Georgia, lived in Rome, Italy, then returned to the United States to graduate from Arizona State University with a degree in architecture.
She loved her work designing schools and performing arts buildings. After moving back to Vero Beach, she joined the Rotary Club and was a four-time recipient of the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award and many other honors including Rotarian of the Year.
Mazzarella was well known for her literacy and dictionary projects, extensive international service work in Africa, and related fundraising activities on behalf of Rotary. She initiated a Rotarian program that brought desks and school supplies to schoolchildren in Africa. She fell in love with Africa and its children.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on April 21, at Cox-Gifford Funeral Home (772) 562-2365.
