Mary Field Leff

Mary Briggs Leff, 94, died Sunday Morning, Sept. 4, 2016 at Vintage on the Ponds where she was a resident these past few years. She was born to the late Charles A Briggs and Carrie Harvey Briggs on Dec. 3, 1921 in White Plaines, New York. At White Plaines High School, Mary played field hockey and the violin. She showed an early interest in art and began sketching and drawing with pastels as a teenager. She was admitted into the prestigious Cooper Union school of Art in 1940,and received a bachelor's degree in decorative arts in 1944. Following graduation, Mary worked briefly in the Kohama Textile Workshop in New York City. She married Robert Leff in 1945. They later divorced in 1998. Mary continued to produce oil paintings, watercolors and ceramics while raising a family of four children, first in Ridgewood, New Jersey; and then Delavan, Wisconsin and Kettering, Ohio. In 1971, Mary's family returned to Delavan. During this time, Mary began to work in new media, including decoupage, batik,dried flower arrangement and collage. In the 1970's and 80's , she showed her work in galleries in Milwaukee and Chicago. In the early 1980's, Marty began to spend the winter months in San Miguel de Allende, a small city in the mountains of central Mexico, where there is a large American artist colony. She regularly showed her work at the Instituto Allende, where she studied with the Mexican Artist, David Pinto, who became a mentor. She also travel extensively throughout the world, visiting Europe, East Asia and Africa. Her work was particularly influenced by traditional Mexican folk art. In San Miguel, Mary photographed and exhibited her studies of the town's picturesque festivals and surrounding landscape. The art of the Huichol Indian tribes of Michoacan, especially their yarn paintings and beaded sculptures, are reflected in her work during the 1990's and 2000s. Mary returned to the States in 2008. she produced a series of striking paper collages and 2010-20111, and maintained an impressive 'galleria' of her work on the walls of her residence. Mary is survived by three children: Thomas P. Leff, an attorney in Wilmington, DE;Harriet E. Leff, an interior designer in San Francisco, Ca and Robert C. Leff, Jr. a retired manager with an airline in San Luis Obispo, CA. A third son, Richard A. Leff, died in 1992. Mary has a surviving brother, David Briggs, who lives in Troy, New York. Memorial services will be 10am, Saturday, Oct 8, 2016 at the Delavan United Methodist Church with the Rev. Maribel Celiz officiating. Burial will immediately follow in Spring Grove Cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 9 to 10 am. on Sat. A reception will be held at the church after the burial. Memorials to the Delavan United Methodist Church are appreciated. Betzer Funeral Home is serving the Leff Family. Service Information Saturday, October 8th, 2016 10:00am, Delavan United Methodist Church 213 S. Second Street Delavan, WI 53115 Interment Location Spring Grove Cemetery Delavan, WI 53115