Mary Potter: 'Go-getter' recognized for her ongoing dedication to community efforts

“I’m an assertive person,” said Potter, 80. “I can be pushy, but sometimes you need someone who is willing to be pushy.

“I’m a good beggar when it comes to fundraising. I’ve always been active and involved and interested in moving things forward. ‘When you sit down, you die.’ I must have heard that from my mother a million times, and I believe it.”

Potter, 80, was selected as one of this year’s Courier Eight Over 80 honorees. She is humbled by the recognition.

“I say with an attitude of gratitude that I am happy that so many people have stepped up to help with positive actions that make the Cedar Valley better, and I thank those who believe I also helped,” she said.

Potter’s accomplishments are many. She has served as president of the Church Row Neighborhood Association since 1998. She and her husband, Ron, moved into a home in Church Row in 1976 and have remained. She established her business in 1984 as a New York Life Insurance Company agent in an older home on West Fourth Street and continues to work.

“I really like what I do. Ron retired 10 years ago, but I don’t see any reason to slow down. I can’t work as fast or as hard as I used to, but I can still work,” Potter said. In 2016, Potter received the Newell C. Day Agent of the Year award in Iowa, presented to the most outstanding member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.

She has held many offices in the National Association of Life Underwriters and received the Unsung Hero award for her significant contribution to helping build the association through volunteering at her church and within the community.

Potter’s interest in rescuing rundown older homes and improving life for residents in the community meant taking the lead in organizing volunteers to rehab two houses on Randall Street and helping rehab a house on West Fourth Street in collaboration with the Black Hawk Veterans Affairs Commission.

“Many of these houses are worth saving. They have good bones,” she explained. The Potters also purchased another Church Row home and restored it as apartments.

“I want to make things better for our community. I believe if you can do something, you should. People need to step up,” she said.

“Mary gives of her time and resources to work for the better of the community. She enjoys getting to know her neighbors. Mary can often be found at a variety of meetings with individuals and groups that are working together to serve the neighborhood,” said Jenna Petersen, neighborhood impact coordinator for Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, one of several people who nominated Potter for the award.

Potter is the main resident leader for the new Church Row Park Action Team, Petersen said, which is working with Waterloo Leisure Services and other organizations to bring visibility, higher usage and enhancements to Elks Memorial Park.

She is a past president of the Waterloo Historic Preservation Commission and has served as a trustee for Waterloo Water Works, as president of the Waterloo Woman’s Club, and is a past Quota Club member.

Donna Brown praised Potter’s actions in establishing the Lou Henry Hoover Memorial Park, located in the green space beneath the U.S. Highway 218 overpass on Washington Street in downtown Waterloo.

“Mary took the lead role of organizing city leaders, landscape architects, art directors, the mayor, a Hoover Library board member and others,” Brown said. “Everything was finished after 11 years work, and it has now become an asset across the street from the Grout Museum.”

Potter mentors at Irving Elementary School and her business is a Partners in Education participant. “Her generosity and passion for making a difference shine through in every endeavor she undertakes,” said Central Middle School Principal Zach Zimmerman. He is the former Irving principal and nominated Potter for Eight over 80 honors.

He believes Potter’s “tireless efforts have helped foster a sense of unity and pride within our neighborhood.”

Potter earned her music degree at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. She taught elementary school music classes for 19 years in La Porte City. She also directed choir at Trinity American Lutheran Church in Waterloo for 51 years and the bell choir for 42 years.

Now a member of Ascension Lutheran Church in Waterloo, she has directed the choir for eight years. In addition, she has served as membership secretary for the Metro Community Concert series for 56 years.

Potter’s latest “adventure” is serving as a trustee for the Grout Museum District.

“I have had a full and interesting life. I have appreciation for what I’ve been able to do and continue to work to do. I haven’t felt any need to sit down. Just like my mother always said. I just keep thinking about keeping things going,” Potter said, with a laugh.

“I’m always looking forward to what comes next.”