Mary Ann and Richard Shaw, 75 & 77

Mary Ann and Richard are a power couple who champion social justice and sustainability through the arts, education and culture. Married for 55 years, Mary Ann, a founder and past Executive Director of U City in Bloom, and her husband Richard, a retired heart surgeon spend numerous hours and financial resources helping others, all for the greater good.

Whether Mary Ann is overseeing a vegetable garden program for elementary students building awareness of food origin and helping them overcome food insecurities or Richard is at a meeting for one of the nine boards which he serves, they are always getting involved in ways that bring underserved communities into the fold in order to provide access and opportunity. Through their dedication, they have built a community of fellow board members, artists and friends who are regular guests in their home and each other’s passions for building a better community.

Mary Ann and Dick are lifelong learners who not only support many cultural icons within our city – they’ve created new ones. They have 3 children and 7 grandchildren, and make their home in University City.