'Matriarch of Mars,' 89, dies
MARS — A stalwart of the borough whose direct communication style will not soon be forgotten has died.
Patricia “Patti” Marburger, 89, died on Monday at her home.
Marburger served for many years on the borough council, where she was in charge of the public works department.
She was also a member of the Mars History and Landmark Society, and is well remembered by the society's president, John Watson.
“I loved Patti,” Watson said. “She definitely cared for this community.”
Watson, who called Marburger “the Sophie Masloff of Mars” after the former Pittsburgh mayor of renown, said he has known Marburger for more than 20 years.
He remembered her driving to the Mars Cemetery in Adams Township to park and watch the local deer frolic in the peaceful setting.
“She was an adorable lady,” Watson said.
He also recalled her motoring around the borough checking the streets and culverts to ensure they were all up to snuff. If they did not measure up, the appropriate person would hear her opinion.
“She was one of a kind,” Watson said, “but she did so much for Mars.”
Watson said he will miss hearing her distinctive voice on the streets of Mars.
“I have a message on my answering machine from her that is two years old,” Watson said. “I just can't erase it.”
David Farr served on the borough council with Marburger for almost a decade.
“She was the matriarch of Mars,” Farr said.
He recalled Marburger driving around the borough in the summer to alert residents that grass clippings clog up storm drains.
“She was a pistol when it came to people mowing their grass into the streets,” Farr said. “She was all about Mars.”
He also recalled standing up to a mild dressing-down from Marburger at one of his first meetings as a councilman. Farr told Marburger that she reminded him of his mother.
“I told her 'but you're not my mother,'” Farr said. “We were the best of friends ever since.”
He said the unique lady will be sorely missed in Mars.
“I had nothing but the utmost respect for Patti,” he said.
Current Mayor Gregg Hartung knew Marburger as a councilwoman, and said he was aware of her when he was a child growing up in Mars.
After he spoke out at a large community meeting in 2003 that regarded the possible elimination of the borough police department, he was approached by Marburger.
“She said 'When are you going to be on council?'” Hartung said. “And lo and behold, I'm now the mayor.”
Hartung said Mars will be worse off for the absence of Patti Marburger, who loved and dedicated much of her life to the little borough she loved.
“She was a long-established councilwoman who made a lot of really good things happen in the community,” Hartung said.
Visitation for Patti Marburger is being held today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home on Crowe Avenue in Mars. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home.
