Remembering a Special Friend

The Pueblo Community College Foundation is mourning the passing of one of our greatest advocates for student success.   Mary Jane Voelker passed away on June 17, 2021.

Mary Jane was born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan, and graduated from Lakeview High School.  She continued her education at Kellogg Community College and Michigan State University in Theater Arts. She worked during her the summers at the Barn Theatre, a professional equity company and continued with horse show jumping and competition during the same time.

After graduating from college, she worked in the group insurance field. Her employer transferred her to San Francisco, California in the late 60s, After 27 years in the insurance industry, she retired and enrolled at Golden Gate University.  She graduated with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism specializing in meeting and convention management.

Mary Jane worked eight years in reservations sales and service for United Airlines until retiring in 2001.

Mary Jane visited Pueblo in 2003 and fell in love with the friendliness of the area.  She eventually moved to Pueblo in 2006.

Mary Jane immediately became involved with her new community.  One of her first visits was to Pueblo Community College and their culinary arts program.  She and the then Chair of the Department Carol Himes would talk of how the successful program could grow into a regional hub for culinary and hospitality education.  Mary Jane made a financial commitment to that program and offered the funding to assist with student scholarships, program supplies and funded the admission fees for PCC students to attend regional and national competitions; offering them the opportunity to test their culinary skills against other students and college programs.  Thanks to her financial support, many students have had the opportunity to pursue and ultimately attain their dreams of becoming certified culinary professionals.

In 2014, Mary Jane funded a special culinary expedition to her beloved Northern California.  The trip offered students a hands-on experience in sampling that area’s food, wine and tourism industries.

The following year, Mary Jane funded another opportunity for PCC Culinary students to travel to Las Vegas for the ultimate behind the scenes experience including tours of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality at the University of Las Vegas, Circus Circus, and Delmonico’s Restaurant.

Mary Jane would tell everyone she met how these opportunities were designed to change lives and demonstrate to the students the importance of living outside of your comfort zone; pursuing dreams beyond the borders of your community.

In 2016, Mary Jane helped to fund PCC’s admission and travel to participate in regional culinary competitions and ultimately the 2017 American Culinary Federation (ACF) Western Regional Student Team Skills Competition and the Student Chef of the Year competition in Chicago. Both teams performed extraordinarily high and the PCC Skills Team earned the very high bronze medal and Chef Michelle Bedard and student Mikaila Clausen retuned home with national recognition.

Mary Jane also provided the funding to develop a local ACF competition. The Mary Jane Voelker Invitational was a sanctioned culinary competition with students from PCC and Pikes Peak Community College squaring off against national ACF standards.   National judges were flown in to oversee the two-day competition.  The Mary Jane Voelker Invitational was held for three years and offered even greater experience for those students wishing to pursue a higher level of culinary education and certification.

As a testament to Mary Jane’s support of Pueblo Community College and its student success, many of the PCC culinary arts students are living their dreams and working within the industry including:

• Koy Arriaga has worked at multiple starred restaurants in New York City and now is working at the Three Starred Michelin restaurant 11 Madison Park in New York City.

• Mikaila Clausen has worked at multiple high end properties around the world and is currently an Executive Pasty Chef at the Makena Golf and Beach Club in Wailuku, HI.

• Deb Harrison has started a highly successful catering business in Canon City.

• Mary Lere has become a wine maker in New Mexico.

• Irene Angelina Maes has worked at several Michelin Starred restaurants in New York City and is now working at Thomas Keller’s Per Se Three Starred Michelin restaurant in New York City.

• Anthony “Tony” Molinaro is the Chef de Cuisine at Twenty One Steak in Pueblo, CO.

• Travis Vincent has started his own butcher shop on the western slope specializing in aged meats and has a hunting/guiding service paired with the food that he creates.

• Ben and Michelle Bedard were instructors at Pueblo Community College and worked with Mary Jane Voelker closely on the development of the PCC Culinary Arts department. “Because of Mary Jane’s support and generosity to the PCC students, faculty and staff, we able to realize our true potential and had the tools necessary to compete with ‘the best of the best’ on a national stage.  These tools and competitions allowed the PCC Culinary Arts program the opportunity to soar to new heights within the culinary arena,” explained Ben Bedard.

Mary Jane became one of the initial funders for the PCC Nursing and Allied Health Teaching and Learning Center at St. Mary Corwin Medical Center.  Planned for opening in August 2022, this new center will become the educational hub for nursing and allied health education in southern Colorado.  Once completed, the facility will offer PCC the opportunity to expand its health education and assist in filling the healthcare workforce for Pueblo and beyond.

Mary Jane held a board position with the Pueblo Community College Foundation (2012 – present) and served as Vice President of the Board from 2019 until her passing.  She was inducted into the PCC President’s Circle in November 2014 and she was recently awarded the status of Director Emeritus for her service to PCC and PCCF.

Mary Jane had established numerous trusts that help fund worthy causes throughout the United States. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, which supports the Beta Sigma Phi Kidney Research at Stanford, the Bay Area Lupus Foundation, United Scleroderma Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Glaucoma Foundation of America.

While residing in Pueblo, Mary Jane was active with the Dorcy Cancer Center at St. Mary Corwin Medical Center and would annually act as the “match the paddle” sponsor at the Cowboys Kickin’ Cancer fundraiser.  She also served as a member of the board of the Pueblo County Historical Society which presented her with their  Historic Preservation Award in 2019  for her outstanding community contributions.  She was also the past moderator for First Congregational United Church of Christ.

Mary Jane is survived by her cousin Rob (Sue) Kilmer.  She was preceded in death by her parents Rolan Voelker (1980) and Dorothy (Kilmer) Volker (2001).

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be sent to the Pueblo Community College Foundation, 900 W. Orman Avenue, Pueblo, CO 81004.