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Lifelong Southampton resident Mary Balzarini McClain died on May 19, 2018, surrounded by her family. She was 91.
Born in East Hampton on December 8, 1926, she was the daughter of Joseph and Ida Balzarini, who founded Balzarini’s Restaurant in Southampton in 1931, having previously owned restaurants in East Hampton and Hampton Bays. She attended Southampton Public Schools and was a member of the Class of 1944. A Latin scholar, she was awarded the top prize in a competition in New York City. After high school graduation, she attended fashion school in New York City and worked designing dresses on Seventh Avenue. She later returned home to marry Gervais J. McClain of Sag Harbor in 1948.
As the owner of Balzarini’s Restaurant, Mrs. McClain greeted generations of Southampton’s residents and summer visitors and employed many local young people, some of whom have become members of the extended family. After retiring from the restaurant business, she worked at Ninna Murray’s on Jobs Lane.
She was a longtime communicant of the Basilica Church of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary where she took loving care of the altar and linens and was a member of the choir and Adult Faith Formation Committee. She was an avid traveler, accompanying her daughter on two medical/dental mission trips to Honduras in her late 70s, supervising sterilization of instruments. As a golfer, she played on courses in the Carolinas, Florida and Nova Scotia. She was a member of the Sag Harbor Golf Club and was Senior Ladies Champion in 1998. Her mind was always active, survivors said, subscribing to a service where she learned new offbeat words each day, and looked forward to solving the New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle (in pen) each week. She also enjoyed working as a volunteer at Southampton Hospital in the office of the president for the last nine years.
A great storyteller, Mrs. McClain loved being surrounded by friends and family, feeding them wonderful home-cooked meals with flair. Her Christmas ravioli is legendary. She also enjoyed playing the cello and painting, making sure to give a piece of her artwork to each great-grandchild to remember her by.
She is survived by her children, Mark (Linda), Stephen (Veronica), and Andrew (Colette Gilbert) of Southampton, and Dr. Mary Leslie (Dr. Edward) Pergiovanni of Connecticut; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a special first cousin, Rita Mitchell Smith of Sag Harbor. The family wishes to acknowledge her longtime companion of 28 years, Roger Tiska of East Hampton, who predeceased her, and his daughter, Linda Tiska Platt (Jonathan) of Hampton Bays.
Visitation was held at Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton with a funeral Mass was celebrated on May 26, officiated by Father Mike Vetrano, followed by burial at Sacred Hearts Cemetery in Southampton.
on Jun 4, 2018