Mary Park with Residence Hall Advisors

Mary Park (1914–2002), shown here with residence hall advisors, served San Francisco State University for more than three decades and became one of the most beloved staff members in campus history. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, Park began working at San Francisco State in 1951 at the Dining Center on the Buchanan Street campus and moved to the Lake Merced campus in 1952, where she initially served meals from a temporary structure. As the campus expanded, Park worked in the Redwood Room of the Commons and later became supervising custodian when Mary Ward Hall opened in the 1960s. In 1969, she was appointed head of custodial services for Mary Ward, Verducci, and Merced Halls, overseeing facilities that housed approximately 1,500 students annually. Known affectionately by students as “Mother Mary,” she often acted as a surrogate parent to residents and staff alike. In 1978, Park was named San Francisco State’s Outstanding Staff Person. On October 26, 1981, Merced Hall was renamed Mary Park Hall, making it the first—and to date only—building in the California State University system dedicated in honor of a staff member.