Mary Alice Rolfes passed away on May 31 at the age of 74 after a courageous two-year fight with pancreatic cancer.

Mary grew up in Northern Kentucky and earned her undergraduate degree from Villanova University in Philadelphia and remained an avid Villanova Wildcat fan. She had a career in Human Resources for many years but her true passion was working with and caring for children. She served on the board of her children’s preschool and when moving to California earned her teaching certificate to teach K thru 3rd grades as a substitute. She was also an active volunteer at Donald Rheem Elementary where her grandchildren attended.

Mary loved to be active and was a rabid sports fan. She crewed sailboat regattas for over 15 years, played golf, hiked, and made rooting for her favorite teams a full contact sport. She loved to travel and was always curious to understand the culture, arts, and geography of the countries she visited. She also was a great cook and a fabulous baker and would have been a worthy contestant on her favorite show, The Great British Baking Show.

Mary is survived by her husband of 53 years, Ken Rolfes, and their daughter Karen Rolfes, and two granddaughters Hannah and Zoe Lehrman. She considered her family to be the most important part of her life.

During her illness, Mary’s medical team became her supporters and friends. Special thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff at the UCSD Moores Cancer Center who were dedicated, kind, and compassionate. Those wishing to memorialize Mary and help find a cure for Pancreatic Cancer can donate to Padres Pedal the Cause.  

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