Community Advocate Remembered For 'Decades of Service' To Horsham

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —Everybody knew Mary Dare.

She was involved in the creation and planning of Everybody's Playground in Horsham. She was a founding member on the boards of the Friends of Horsham Library and the Horsham Chamber of Commerce.

She helped plan Horsham Day. She attended rotary meetings. And she even volunteered to work the polls on Election Night.

Those were just some mentions of Dare's community involvement as she was remembered Monday for her impact in Horsham. Dare died Thursday at the age of 73.

"Mary was very special to Horsham," Township Manager Bill Walker said. "She was involved in so many ways in the community. She absolutely loved Horsham and worked every day to make it a special community."

Dare moved to the township in the 1970s, working as a 5th-grade teacher at Blair Mill Elementary School, according to her obituary.

In the late 1970s, Dare launched a commercial real estate company that was responsible for the development and construction of numerous commercial properties in the Horsham area.

By 1985, Dare had purchased Otto's Brauhaus on Route 611, her obituary states.

"She had a way of meeting residents and business owners and ‘pulling’ them in to get involved, to volunteer, and to support the community," Walker said. "It is once in the lifetime of a community that you have a few residents like Mary Dare."

Dare was also a board member at College Settlement Camp and often sold tickets or served food at the camp's annual June Supper.

She also served on the board of the Horsham Parks and Recreation Committee and was also the former president of the Horsham Library, where she organized countless author events and book drives, her obituary stated.

"Although many current and future residents did not have the opportunity to meet Mary Dare, her impact and legacy on the quality of life in Horsham will be felt for many generations to come," Walker said.

Dare was also a founding member of the Horsham Neighbors Association and was instrumental in the creation of the Community Police Program.

"If there was a charitable or community event here in Horsham, Mary was likely involved," Horsham Community Police Services said. "We thank and honor her for her decades of service to Horsham Township. She inspired and helped so many here in our community. Rest in Peace Mary."

Mary is survived by her husband, Craig Dare; her children: Michael Dare (Kiera), Chrissy Derbyshire (Ron); her grandchildren Hayley, Brennan, Olivia, Millie, Alex and Henry; her sister Joan Subotnick (Mort) and by her beloved dog, Leo.

Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 17, at the Helweg & Rowland Funeral Home, 1500 Old York, Road, Abington, where relatives and friends will be received from 10:00 AM until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to one of the organizations near and dear to Mary's heart: College Settlement Camp and the Horsham Rotary Foundation.