In Memoriam – Mary Helen Fein
We are very sad to announce that we lost a long-time friend and activist, Mary Helen Fein, at the end of 2025. Mary Helen was active in the AADC as well as helping Indivisible Auburn with its website in the early days. Her husband, Stu Clancy, was a charter Steering Committee member and our Treasurer for several years.
Indivisible President Pat Ferguson noted that, “The last time that I saw them was at the Kennedy-Roosevelt dinner. Mary Helen continued to be involved even as her health declined. She always remembered who you were and greeted you with a smile. It takes all kinds of volunteers to wage the good fight, and she participated widely and was a great friend to many. Our sympathies to Stu and Mary Helen’s many friends.”
She was born in New York City in 1943 and began writing at the age of 12 when her mother died. Mary Helen Fein was a member of the Gold Country Writers here in Auburn. She authored three books, her first about a woman involved in the drug trade, called Loss of Deliverance. The second one is Stitching a Life, a story about her grandmother’s immigration to our country from Lithuania when she fled religious persecution in 1900. The third was semi-autographical, called The Belief. She was also a Master of Transcendental Meditation and taught meditation classes. She was active in her Sangha.
Terry Rodriguez worked closely with Mary Helen for three years as AADC President. He remembers that as AADC Communication Chair, she set up the AADC website. She and her husband Stu Clancy were members of the E-Board for many years, and she was a major reason that we found the current HQ space. Terry says “Her contributions, friendships, and activism will not be forgotten.”
Sandy Floyd remembers “She reached out for membership dues, always in a friendly way… She put together the newsletter – writing, editing and managing deadlines. She was a lovely person.”
Mary Helen passed away on November 23, 2025. We are grateful for having the privilege of knowing her and for how much she contributed to shaping our club.