Marian (Richards) Albright
February 19, 1942 - January 1, 2002
as shared by
Marilynn McKay
A tribute to
Marian (Richards) Albright
February 19, 1942 - January 1, 2002
as shared by
Marilynn McKay
Marian had recovered from a pretty bad auto accident a
couple of years ago -- she did lots of physical therapy and got herself in
better shape than her doctors thought possible. She operated her own liens
business and had just expanded it to a new office and went back to work
full-time.
Marian had visited Italy several times to see her daughter, son-in-law and
grandson, who live outside Milan where the family trains western horses. Marian
was studying Italian and had made many Italian friends in the Albuquerque arts
community. This winter Marian had worked out a house-trade with an Italian
sculptor and his family who had a villa in Ischia, a picturesque island off the
coast of Naples. She was very enthusiastic about the opportunity to speak
Italian and live in such a lovely spot on her own for a few months. She went to
Ischia in mid-December to get to know the new house while the Italian family was
still there and Marian's family planned to spend Christmas with her in Ischia.
Marian evidently had a wonderful couple of days until she became ill with
stomach and chest pain. It was thought to be pneumonia at first, then she was
hospitalized and they found an intestinal problem -- surgery was done, but the
infection was serious. She was transferred to a hospital in Naples where she
died three days later on January 1, 2002.
Marian was a delightful, upbeat, attractive woman who loved meeting new people -- she lived in the North Valley and had wonderful impromptu parties where you were liable to meet almost anyone. (In fact, the last time I saw her was among her friends at the going-away party she had at her house the night before she left.) In the summer you could sit with Marian on the patio at the Flying Star on Rio Grande and it seemed like half the people in the place would come up and chat with her (and of course she'd introduce you, so you'd know them next time). She was energetic but remarkably low-key - it was relaxing and just plain pleasant to be around her. She will be missed by all who knew her, for every one of them was a friend.
Marilynne McKay
January 8, 2002