Hanover, NH – Mary Lyons Baldwin Scott passed away quietly on May 27, 2026 in the presence of her children. She is survived by her son Charles Scott (Virginia Scott); her daughters Ellen Delaney (Joseph Stanovich) and Alice Paik (David Paik); six grandchildren – Caitlin Delaney; Lily, Eddie, and Sophie Scott; and Henry and Lyons Paik – and her brother Bernard Coleman Baldwin III (Heidi Baldwin). She was preceded in death by her husband, William (“Bill”) Scott; her father, Bernard Coleman Baldwin Jr.; and her mother, Reeder Davidson Baldwin.

Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Mary Lyons was raised to step wholeheartedly into the opportunities that came her way. She loved to work diligently and was accomplished in many areas, among them academics, music, business, and gardening. Her real musical passion was classical and the piano, which would shape the rest of her life. She attended Stuart Hall preparatory school and graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1962. Mary Lyons began dating William “Bill” Scott in 1963 – she in New York City, he finishing his Ph.D. at Princeton – and they were married December 19, 1964 and moved to the Hanover, NH area in 1966.

Mary Lyons and Bill loved to travel. The summer after they were married, Bill had a grant to do research in museums in Europe, and they traveled together throughout the continent, visiting Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Florence, Frankfurt, Berlin, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Shannon. Primarily for the adventure of it, they took advantage of a sabbatical and moved the family to California for a year in 1977–78. Over the years, they took many luxury cruises where Bill was a featured speaker, including a favorite experience where all the guests were their close friends. And in 2025 Mary Lyons organized the African safari trip of a lifetime to South Africa and Zimbabwe for herself and the families of all of her children.

Mary Lyons played piano through college, then took a break from it until she met Yoriko Chodos of the New England Conservatory of Music in 1971. Yoriko took her on as a project, teaching her to “concentrate on the music and let it come out,” and reopening a part of her life she had set aside. Under Yoriko’s guidance, Mary Lyons grew well beyond the level of playing she had reached earlier in life. After Yoriko left Hanover, Mary Lyons kept at it – performing concerts in Hanover and in Lynchburg, attending Menahem Pressler’s summer workshops, and even playing in one of his master classes. In recent years, she took on responsibility for Kendal’s Webster Society concert series, bringing some of the best musicians in the world to perform at Kendal retirement community. Music remained one of the great pleasures of her life.

From 1962 to 1964, Mary Lyons worked for IBM in New York as a systems engineer, covering miles of the city in heels and implementing new computer technology for businesses. While raising her young family, Mary Lyons thought it was important to pursue projects to build a fulfilled life and engage in her community. In the early 1980s, when a shoulder injury kept her from playing the piano for a time, Mary Lyons turned her business and fashion skills to Carlisle, the high-end women’s clothing line. Within a few years she was the top small-town seller in the country, and not long after that, a regional manager. For years afterward she continued to consult for Carlisle, spending a week most months in New York – a city she loved – doing critical work for the company alongside a team she adored. Bill loved joining her on those weeks, going to museums and shows while she worked.

From a second home in Eastman beginning in 1998 and at Kendal in Hanover from 2018, Mary Lyons filled her days in retirement with golf, bridge (at which she was on the cusp of becoming a grand champion), both new and decades-old friendships, hosting family, and devoted care for Bill through his memory issues until his death in October 2025. She was a woman of remarkable intelligence and quiet humility, admired by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Never seeking recognition for her accomplishments, she nevertheless earned the respect and affection of countless friends, colleagues, and family members. Gifted with wisdom, determination, and an extraordinary ability to turn ideas into success, everything she touched seemed to flourish. Yet her greatest strength was not her achievements, but her kindness, generosity, and genuine concern for others. Despite being admired by many, she remained gracious and unassuming, carrying herself with a humility that made her even more beloved. Her legacy is one of excellence, compassion, and a life that enriched everyone around her. Mary Lyons led by example – prepared for the opportunities that arose, generous with her friendships, finding adventure and joy where she went.

A memorial service for Mary Lyons Scott will be at 1:30 pm on Saturday, July 11 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Hanover, NH with reception to follow in the Hayward Room at the Hanover Inn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Opera North (operanorthnh.org).