Mary Long Fitch
Feb. 27, 1948-Aug. 28, 2026
Palo Alto, California

Mary Fitch, 78, passed away on August 28, 2026 after a 48 year battle with MS. She died the way she always wanted, at home, free from life support machines and in the arms of her husband. Her body was taken to Stanford Hospital for research applications in MS and other neurological diseases.

Mary was born in Toledo, Ohio to Richard Long and Anne Tenney Long. She was brought up in Glen Rock, New Jersey and attended Penn Hall in Chambersburg, Pa. She received a BS in Nursing at the University of Michigan in 1970 and loved to sing Hail to the Victors. She received a Masters Degree in Nursing at NYU in 1975 and an Ed.D degree at University of San Francisco in 1989. Mary worked as a critical care nurse at Stanford and at the Palo Alto VA hospital for 28 years. Mary loved caring for and supporting patients in intensive care environments. In retirement Mary stayed active with neighborhood friends and indulging her love of classical music at the San Francisco Symphony but especially at the Bing Concert Hall as an Artists Circle and Director Circle member for many years.

Mary loved to dance and practiced belly dancing in the 70s before MS took away her twirl. She always loved politics, was a devoted feminist and attended many Commonwealth Club Events in The City. To this day, she argued that the Equal Rights Amendment should be passed. Her whole life, she loved to shop and dress up; in her youth, she considered acting with a program at the NY Academy of Dramatic Arts but found her life direction when she turned to Nursing. Her easy smile and quick flirtation were so useful in the hospital.

But most of all Mary loved her family. She found her life partner, Bill at U of M standing in the freshman orientation line and they were married for 58 years. She had twin daughters, Maureen and Karen in 1971 and had 4 grandchildren, Ellie, Amy, Naomi and Artie. In her last years her best friends were her caregivers, who became companions and felt “Though we were there to care for her, Mary cared for us in her own way. She saw the best in us and uplifted us with her wisdom, optimism and love.”