MARY E WINSHIP's Obituary
Mary "Mimi" Evans Winship, a beloved mother, grandmother, actress, playwright/composer, director, choreographer and dedicated member of the Episcopal church community, passed away peacefully on October 29, 2024, in Miami, Florida. She was 87 years old.
Born on February 2, 1937, in Montclair, New Jersey, Mimi graduated from Kimberley Academy in 1954. She continued her education at Bradford College in Haverhill, Massachusetts, graduating with an Associate of Arts degree. Mimi spent many years in Montclair, where she raised her two sons with her first husband, Robert Harmon.
She continued to pursue her acting career in New York during the 1960’s and 1970’s. She appeared in daytime soap operas, “One Life to Live,” “Edge of Night’ and “Love of Life.” She formed the American Comedy Theater, a professional touring company, which performed at many venues in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.
In the 1980s and early 90s, she dedicated much of her creative energy to writing plays, authoring four musicals that were performed to benefit various local Montclair, New Jersey charities. Notably, her last play, “Canterbury…Murder Most Saintly in Twelfth Century England,” was performed in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Montclair, New Jersey and raised $25000 to finance fixing of its roof.
On January 1st, 1991, Mimi married Douglas Winship in Hamilton, Bermuda. In 1994, Doug’s career took them to Alexandria, Virginia, where they lived for 10 years. During this time, she hosted the “Mimi Winship Show” on public access TV. As her contribution to Alexandria’s 250th anniversary celebration, Mimi coauthored with her cousin, Bryant Girdler a cookbook, “Great Chefs of Historic Alexandria.” She also utilized her choreography skills to create “Almost Broadway,” her exercise concept utilizing Broadway musical based music and dance routines, her classes were well received. During this time, Mimi also survived two bouts with breast cancer.
In 2006, Doug’s career took him to Coral Gables, Florida. They began attending St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and singing in its choir until she could no longer do stairs. She also reprised “Almost Broadway” there until her infirmities progressed too much for her to continue. During this time, she found yet another outlet for her creative talents, becoming a published poet in “American Thinker” and “American Spectator.”
Known for her optimistic outlook on life, vibrant spirit and passion for the arts, Mimi was a cherished grandmother who delighted in playing dress-up with her grandchildren and sharing her love of theater with them. Her creative talents, theatrical enthusiasm, and dedication to her Episcopal church community touched countless lives and will be deeply missed.
Mimi is survived by her beloved husband, Douglas Winship; her son Robert T. Harmon, Jr. and his wife Lidia Soto-Harmon, their children Tomás Harmon (Brandon Rodgers) and Nina María; and her daughter-in-law Carmela Harmon, widow of her late son Bryant Harmon, and their daughters Corina, Rebecca, and Katherine. She was overjoyed to recently welcome her first great-grandchild, Corina's son Isaac.
Services will be held at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, December 7th at 10 am. Internment of ashes followed by a reception at the church parish hall.
Please consider honoring May E. Winship by directing memorial gifts to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at https://t2t.org/.
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