Mary Ann Piccard

Mary Ann (Ritz) Piccard, 87, died Tuesday, 7 January 2025. She is survived by her son, Douglas Piccard, and her grandson, Mark Felix Piccard. She was the daughter of the late Herman and Anna Mary Ritz of Lancaster, PA, and has been a resident of Kennett Square since 1968. She was pre-deceased by her husband, John Augustus Piccard, and son, Mark Robert Piccard.

Mary Ann earned her bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College, and her Master of Science in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania before marrying John. She was working at DuPont’s Experimental Station when Douglas arrived, and she turned her energy and drive towards raising her sons. When they were older, she began forays into working again. She took up studying electrical engineering at Widner University and was awarded a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. With this degree, she again found work with DuPont and eventually retired from there.  

Mary Ann was always an avid artist. Wielding anything from a cutting torch to a fine brush and pen. Her favorite subjects were horses and unicorns. Her other subjects were manifested with her skill at gardening, from flowers to fruit, and with that fruit, creating jams and jelly. She applied her engineering/artistic skills to authorship too. She published the Official Star Trek Cooking Manual, one still sought after for its straightforward, detailed instructions and wide pallet of recipes.

 Her Memorial Celebration will be held from 10AM to 12 noon on March 29, 2025 at the Kennet Square Senior Center, 427 South Walnut Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348.  

Memorial contributions in Mary Ann's honor can be made to the animal rescue of your choice.  

Arrangements are by Matthew J. Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-734-8100) of Kennett Square. To view Mary Ann's tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com