Mary Jane Hipp Brock 1966
Mary Jane is, in every sense, an outstanding example of what one can achieve when grounded in the St. Catherine's experience. Her story here began with loss — she came to us as a boarder after the death of her mother, and not long after, lost her sister as well. St. Catherine's became her anchor. Head of School at the time, Susanna Turner, took her under her wing with such warmth and devotion that Mary Jane later named her daughter Susanna in her honor. From that foundation of love and resilience, a lifetime of giving was born.
Mary Jane is, in every sense, an outstanding example of what one can achieve when grounded in the St. Catherine's experience. Her story here began with loss — she came to us as a boarder after the death of her mother, and not long after, lost her sister as well. St. Catherine's became her anchor. Head of School at the time, Susanna Turner, took her under her wing with such warmth and devotion that Mary Jane later named her daughter Susanna in her honor. From that foundation of love and resilience, a lifetime of giving was born.
During her time at St. Catherine's, Mary Jane served as Junior Class President and, in her senior year, as President of Student Government and President of the Honor Council. In 1966, she was elected June Queen — a fitting tribute to a young woman already defined by her service and grace.
After attending Sweet Briar College, Mary Jane settled in New York City. Married to Charlie for 47 years, she chose to be an at-home mother to their two children while pursuing a distinguished volunteer career spanning decades.
For 35 years, Mary Jane served as Vice Chair of the board of New York's Big Apple Circus, a nonprofit performing arts organization that brings joy and healing through innovative outreach programs, including its renowned Clown Care program. This program initially was developed to bring specially trained artists to pediatric units in 16 hospitals nationwide, later expanding to senior citizen facilities and at-risk youth.
Another pillar of Mary Jane’s volunteer career is the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and the seat of the bishop. She is in her 26th year of service on that board and in 2025 chaired the search committee that selected the first female dean.
A former dean of the Cathedral, upon retirement, founded the Interfaith Center of New York, an organization dedicated to promoting religious, cultural, ethnic, and social understanding. Mary Jane shared his vision and became the first chair of the board of the Interfaith Center of New York. In 2018, she received the prestigious James Parks Morton Interfaith Award, and she continues her interfaith work on the Advisory Board of the Tannenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding.
She has also served on the board of Stratford Hall, the historic house museum on Virginia's Potomac, and has been actively involved in numerous causes in her East Hampton community, where she and Charlie spend most of their time.
Mary Jane Hipp Brock has spent a lifetime giving — of her time, talent, treasure, and heart. She is living proof that what we give truly does remain our own. We are honored to recognize her as the 2026 Distinguished Alumna.
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Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St. Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.
