As we prepare to honor Three Wise Women in each of our four regions this January at our Epiphany celebrations, we’re thrilled to give you the opportunity to get to know these inspiring and accomplished Italian American ladies a little better.

Keep your eyes on our blog over the next twelve days to meet our Wise Women during the #12DaysofWiseWomen series!

Mary L. Pepe
Director of Human Resources
Town of Greenwich

Mary will be honored at our Connecticut Region Epiphany on Sunday, January 17, 2016. Buy tickets here.

What does your Italian heritage mean to you, and how has it guided your career and inspired your accomplishments?

My Italian heritage is deeply woven into the fabric of who I am as a person — in part because that heritage will forever be linked to my family and the values, passions and lessons that came to me from them and are reflected throughout all facets of my life. Simply put, they are: love of family, both the one you are born into and the ones you create throughout your life; an appreciation of the arts as a force both to better understand the world and to take us beyond ourselves; a determination to help others; pride in and dedication to your chosen work and in perfecting the craftsmanship with which you conduct that work; the commitment to live with integrity and do the right thing; and finally, the respect for strong,  independent women, even if they fill traditional roles, and the supportive men who love and regard them as equal partners.

About mary

Mary L. Pepe was born and raised in Derby, Connecticut, the daughter of the late Anthony and Norma Palazzi Pepe. She is the granddaughter of the late Emedio and Mary Parlato Pepe and the late Ildebrando and Guerina Bassi Palazzi, who hailed from the Castellammare and Le Marche regions of Italy respectively.

Mary is presently the Director of Human Resources for the Town of Greenwich, CT. She is the former Vice President of Operations at the Regional Water Authority in New Haven. Prior to becoming Vice President of Operations, she was Director of Human Resources at the Water Authority as well as at Valley Cable Vision and at Tele-Media Company of Western Connecticut. Mary began her career in the field of education as a teacher of English at Derby High School and later served as Director of Staff Development, Curriculum and Public Relations for the Derby Schools. She was President of the Derby Education Association and was chosen as 1982 Teacher of the Year by the Southern Connecticut State University Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa.

Mary has an extensive history of community involvement both in New Haven and in the Valley. She has served as Board Chair of several organizations including: the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Long Wharf Theatre, the Valley United Way and the Birmingham Group/Valley Mental Health Center (now BHCare). She was a founding trustee of the Valley Community Foundation.

Presently, Mary is a member of the Boards of Directors of Elm Shakespeare and of Long Wharf Theatre and an associate fellow of Calhoun College, Yale University. She also sits on the Annual Giving Committee for the College of New Rochelle.

Previously, Mary served as First Vice Chair of the Board of Easter Seals Goodwill Industries. She is also a former member of the Boards of: the Gateway Community College Foundation; the Housatonic Council, Boy Scouts of America; Saint Martin de Porres Academy; the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame; the Shelton Economic Development Corporation; the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce; the Gesell Institute; Hewitt Hospital; and the Girl Scouts of Connecticut. Mary also served on the Grievance Panel for New Haven County Judicial District 6 and on the WPCA for the Town of Branford.

Mary has received numerous awards for leadership in community service, such as: the Women of Achievement Award from the Girl Scouts of Connecticut; the Liberty Bell Award from the Valley Bar Association; both the Gold and Platinum Leadership Awards from the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce; the Charles Flynn Humanitarian Award from the Valley United Way; the 20 Outstanding Women Award from the New Haven Business Times; and an Ursula Laurus Citation from the College of New Rochelle.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in classical languages and literature from the College of New Rochelle (NY), a Master’s degree in education from Fairfield University, and completed postgraduate doctoral work at the University of Connecticut.

Mary presently resides in Branford.