Mary Elizabeth Nilles
May 19, 1943 - October 17, 2020

"Mary and I evolved from departmental colleagues to good friends. I will miss her wise counsel, our long phone conversations, her humor, her support, her optimism, her stories. Such a giving person as Mary will never be forgotten."

"Communities as distant and diverse as Rollingstone, Minnesota, Luxembourg, and Downtown Brooklyn, New York are mourning the recent passing of Dr. Mary Nilles, professor, Fulbright scholar, historian, preservationist, colleague and friend. The underlying thread that unites us is the loss of a vibrant, intelligent woman who had the unique ability to motivate people to participate in historic preservation projects and activities that bridge world cultures and celebrate their unique contributions. Mary devoted her life to these pursuits, despite facing scepticism and countless hurdles thrust in her path. A tireless visionary, she moved on, undeterred, with these initiatives, influencing many to join in her pursuits. Mary blended her love for the farmlands and Luxembourger heritage, with her service as a Fulbright scholar, sharing the insights gained with her City Tech students in Brooklyn, who themselves represent a microcosm of world cultures. Though consumed by a variety of professional and international activities, Mary always found time for the individual friend and neighbor in need. I recall how she spent countless hours visiting foreign exchange students who were hospitalized, even supervising their medical care so they would not feel alone in this country. I am sure that many have similar stories to tell about Mary\'s concern for those in need. While we mourn Mary\'s passing, we are left with her admirable legacy which challenges us to contribute our time and talents to help and unite people and continue to preserve what is best in our history and culture. Emilie A. Cozzi Former Provost, Acting President and Professor NYC College of Technology/CUNY "

"I was a colleague of Mary Nilles at City Tech. We first met in the 1980\'s, where she was an innovative and student-oriented teacher. What I remember most is how she single-handedly brought international exchanges to life. As a Fulbright Scholar, Mary championed faculty exchanges; our engineering technology departments benefited from initial exchanges with comparable universities in China. In later years, she rallied us ---students, faculty, staff ---to remember our roots and worked tirelessly to raise awareness and embrace our earliest history through its artifacts. Mary\'s spirit lives on through those of us lucky enough to have known her. Peace, Julia"

"Farewell, my friend, with love, Jane "

"I am shocked and saddened to hear of Mary\'s passing. I thought she was invincible!!! As a Counselor at New York City College of Technology I don\'t remember exactly when or under what circumstances we met but we worked on a number of projects that were not especially related to our jobs. She was passionate about everything, especially her students. She would call me at all hours to refer a troubled student. When the horrific murder of George Floyd happened I remarked to someone that the only two people I knew from Minnesota was Mary and a co-worker, Paul Schwartz, two of the most non-racist people I\'d ever met. So I naively thought they represented all the people in Minnesota. We especially bonded over a piece of history at the college. A beautiful mosaic was going to be destroyed and when Mary discovered that it had been designed by an African American Artist and executed by a White ceramicist we were moved and began our quest to save that beautiful piece of historic art. She gave me an open invitation to visit the farm during the summers she spent there. It\'s a bucket list experience that will not be fulfilled but I will always have wonderful and special memories of Mary who I nicknamed, \"pioneer woman\". Condolences to all who loved her. Helen Frank"

"I am saddened to hear the passing of Prof. Nilles. I always had the most interesting and engaging conversations with her as she put up exhibits in the City Tech Library over the years. She certainly had a passion for teaching, evident in enriching her students and fellow faculty. My thoughts and deepest condolences to her family and friends. "

"My deepest sympathies to Mary\'s family and friends, I\'ve met Mary in 2007 at the Marnach House. Rest in Peace Mary."

"Lewiston Elementary is sad to hear the news of Mary\'s passing. She was a huge part of our classroom every fall when we visited the Marnach House in the Whitewater Valley. Each fall she would fly home for our event. She would tell us stories about the house and the research she did. The highlight was her delicious cake she would always provide for the kids. We will continue to read her book \"Adelle\'s Diary\" as a special tribute to her and the memories she leaves behind. She will be missed! Mike Buringa 4th grade teacher"

"My sympathies to Mary\'s family and friends. I met her in the 1980\'s and was impressed by her vigor and passion for all things Luxembourg. She was an inspiration to many."

"I was a colleague of Mary\'s at New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn, NY for 36 years, where she was a member of the English Department and I was a member of the Communication Design Department. Mary played a unique role in our college through her pioneering efforts in creating an awareness of the possibilities of interdisciplinary, multicultural projects. She was also instrumental in proposing and securing funding for several collaborations between students in her English classes and students in my department. Her last major effort, \"The Klitgord Mosaics\" developed out of a research project she assigned her students based on a large mosaic mural covering the facade of the Klitgord Center on the college campus. The mural, her students discovered, had been designed by an African-American artist and executed by a Hungarian-American ceramicist. Mary subsequently led a successful campaign to save the mural from being destroyed (due to construction of a new building) and then organized an exhibition documenting its complex and surprising history. Mary\'s passion for history and for conserving its records and artifacts is well known. I also want to affirm as Laurence Pierron noted, her \"unsurpassed dedication to....teaching and students.\" Teaching was at the center of Mary\'s life and I truly believe that if illness had not sapped her strength she would still be in the classroom inspiring another generation of students. May she rest in peace. Joel Mason Professor Emeritus NYC College of Technology/CUNY Department of Communication Design"

"I will forever miss you, Mary. Your unsurpassed dedication to your teachings and students coupled with your deep rooted love for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg you shared all your life are exemplary. Our long phone conversations talking about your projects - while me learning more about Luxembourg in America - were filled with passion, and I am so happy the Consulate General of Luxembourg in New York supported some of your projects, including \"Draw Home\", celebrating a Fulbright to Luxembourg, and \"The Klitgord Mosaics\" celebrating the Luxembourg History and saving its legacy in Brooklyn, NY. I just regret that your visits and attendances at events at the Consulate were too seldom. I will miss you a lot. Rest in peace, Mary."

"Mary thank you for all you have done to document in such scholarly manner the times and lives of those enterprising Luxembourgers who made their new home in the land of the free and of the brave. You were an exemplary descendant. Now rest in peace. "

"Mary always encouraged and helped make everything outside on the farm fun and berry picking and horseback riding was and is such a generous time with me always. I could listen to her talk of her travels forever. Appreciatd all my memories with this very special lady. Rest in peace Mary."