Mary Margaret Shoaf

Mary-Margaret Shoaf (Grubbs), age 78, of Cape Coral, Florida, passed away surrounded by her friends and dogs in her home on April 5, 2025.

Mary-Margaret was born on April 3, 1947 in Gilmer, Texas. Raised in Quitman, Texas, she was a graduate of Quitman High School and received her Bachelors of Science in Mathematics from the University of Texas, Austin in 1969. She went on to achieve a Masters Degree in Applied Operations Research and Computer Science from Sacred Heart University in 1984 as well as a second Masters Degree in Philosophy from Columbia University in 1992. Her education pinnacled with a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from Columbia University, also in 1992.

In addition to Quitman, Mary-Margaret lived in Austin, San Antonio and Waco, Texas. She raised a family in Westport, Connecticut and enjoyed her weekend home in the Berkshires. She retired in Cape Coral, Florida in her dream home that she designed from the ground up.

Mary-Margaret taught every level of classroom from the 3rd grade to Ph.D courses at Columbia University, The University of Texas-Austin, Baylor University, The College of New Rochelle and Notre Dame High School. In addition to being published over 100 times and receiving numerous awards for her research, she also served as National Secretary for the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators from 2005-2009. If you ever used a Texas Instrument graphing calculator during your education, you too learned from her (!) as she wrote the instruction manual for the original models.

Enough cannot be said about the contributions she made to her student’s lives as well as Mathematics in general. She cared deeply for every single student that passed through her classrooms and took particular pride in supporting the role of women in Mathematics. Her students knew her to be a caring mentor and friend who held a genuine interest in their lives. She made sure that every student she encountered knew they were somebody who mattered. She opened her home to them and forged lifelong friendships.

Mary-Margaret’s other passion was caring for dogs. She bred Labradors for over 2 decades, which eventually led her to foster and transport rescue dogs. Just as she opened her home to her students, she also welcomed countless dogs into her home. After retirement, she adopted or fostered close to two dozen senior dogs. They received the ultimate in health care and a loving home to experience their sunset years, perhaps demonstrating the great deal of karma earned in a previous life - by both the dogs and Mary-Margaret.

Beyond dogs and mathematics, her passions included the color teal, Neil Diamond, Mary Englebreit, Monét, Broadway, Thomas McKnight, Elton John, Venetian glass, ceramics, fine dining, High Tea at The Savoy, Andrew Lloyd Webber (she even loved Starlight Express), wicker furniture and baskets, David Bowie, her Faith, her garden, dressing to the nines, and twirling the baton. She may have reveled you with the story of how she taught Sissy Spacek to twirl, helping her land her first Hollywood role. (Watch the beginning of Badlands to see what Sissy learned!) Mary-Margaret was rarely, if ever, seen in public without a Gucci handbag, a Mercedes Station Wagon and an impeccable appearance from head to toe. She truly loved travel, considering it the most important way to learn about both humanity and oneself, and made sure to share that passion with her son.

To paraphrase the words of her friend, Elena: In a world that often moves too quickly, her kindness and warmth created a sanctuary for everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her genuine laughter and caring spirit touched lives in ways that words cannot fully express. Though she is no longer with us physically, the light she brought into this world continues to shine in all the lives she touched.

Mary-Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob Eggleston Shoaf and Edna Earle Elizabeth Nelson Shoaf, her sister Ann (Samuel) Davis, her first husband James Lee Grubbs in addition to her dogs, Cappy, KC, Penny, Maggie, Libby, Abbie, Chance, Mocha, Blue Boy, Polly, Hope, Katie, Casey, Charlie and numerous others. She is survived by her son, James Thomas Grubbs, her grandson, Asher Thomas Garon-Grubbs, his mother Eva Garon, nieces Johnna Davis and Georgia (Troy) Moomey, Sister-in-Laws Jan Grubbs, Sue Bickerton, nephews Bob (Alnice) Bickerton and Brett (Maria) Bickerton, Godson Brian (Ally) Gill, her second husband, Henry Pollak, stepdaughter Cathy (Jay) Pollak Moldave as well as three dogs, Athens, Molly and Buddy.

A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at 11am on May 10th at Four Freedoms Park in Cape Coral, Florida. Her burial will be May 17th in Quitman, Texas at 11am.

Should friends desire, donations may be made to Angel Paws, Catahoula Rescue Me or your local Animal Shelter.