Today's Wonderful WCC Woman is Mary Stuart Gile

WONDERFUL WCC WOMAN is all about the amazing women that are members of the Woman's Club of Concord...

I was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, attended public schools, and graduated from McGill University with a B.Sc. in physical education, health and recreation. I married one year out of college and started my family a year later. I was an at-home Mom with a husband who was a student so I added to our income by substitute teaching, coaching women’s athletics, and officiating at high school sports and college women’s soccer.

In the late 50’s life became very uncomfortable in Quebec when the Frontiere de Liberation de Quebec engaged in quasi-terrorists activities such as calling in bomb threats to public schools, placing bombs in various neighborhoods. My husband and I decided to move south to Jefferson, NH and I began my teaching career as a kindergarten teacher at the Whitefield School, (K-12). I was also appointed the first Head Start teacher for children in Twin Mountain, Whitefield, Jefferson and Dalton. I loved the White Mountains, made many wonderful friends, had a great time chairing the Jefferson PTA, attending Hunter Suppers, starting a theater group, and skiing at Wildcat, however for a variety of reasons, my first marriage ended in divorce.

A friend found me a great teaching position in Salem, NH, so my mother, two children, Chris and Julia, one cat, one golden retriever and her seven black puppies moved south, Two years later we relocated to Concord when I was offered the position of consultant in Early Childhood Education with the Title 1, ESEA office in the NH State Department of Education.

In 1969, I became a naturalized American, in Concord with the late Judge Frank Kenison presiding.

Moving to Concord was a good decision. I worked for the State for 16 years, acquired both a M.Ed. from UNH and a Ed.D. in educational leadership from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. I met and married my second husband, Bob Gile, became a step-mother to Jack and in 1976 delivered our bonus baby, Rob. 

In 1985 I became Vice President for Education and Development of the Academy of Applied Science and had the privilege of working with Dr. Robert H. Rines, Inventor, Patent Attorney and Founder of the Franklin Pierce Law Center (now UNH School of Law) . In 1990, I accepted the position as first Department Chair of Early Childhood Education at NHTI and introduced the Associate degree in early childhood. I retired in 1998 to work on establishing the Child Development Center and Laboratory School at NHTI.

Fast forward to 2013- I am beginning my 18th year as a NH Representative to the General Court from Merrimack County District 27 (Concord Wards 1,2,3,4,6,& 7). I’ve served on three different House committees, chaired the Children and Family Law Committee for two terms, and now chair the House Education Committee, the Legislative Task Force on Work and Family and co-Chair the Legislative Caucus on Children and Youth. I have sponsored and cosponsored many bills related to child protection, early learning, child care, human trafficking, juvenile and adult criminal justice, family leave insurance and gender equity to mention a few.

I’ve enjoyed many opportunities to volunteer and serve on state and community boards of directors and associations, such as the United Way, Citizens Advisory to Concord’s Community Development Program, Child and Family Services and the State Child Care Advisory Council. I co-founded The Children’s Place and Parent Education Center, the Concord Children’s Initiative, and was appointed to the first Board of Trustees of the NH Children’s Trust Fund. I joined groups such as the Community Players, Suncook Valley Chorale, and the Concord Women’s Club. I also became a grandmother and as of July 11, 2013, a great-grandmother.

My mother-in-law, the late Inza H Gile introduced me to the NH Federation of Women’s Clubs so it made sense for me to join. I enjoy reading about all the activities and consider it an organization of vision and great energy. Every event and meeting that I have attended has been most enjoyable.