Ann (Floberg) Mason

Ann Floberg Mason, 74, of McKeesport, departed this life peacefully surrounded by family and friends on Friday, November 8, 2019, at home.
  
Leaving behind to cherish her memory, Husband; Major Mason III, Daughter; Arianna Mason, Son; Major A. Mason IV, and many friends.

Ann was born June 26, 1945, in Rockford Illinois, daughter of the late Arthur Floberg, and Mary Isles. After growing up in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and receiving her AB degree in sociology from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA, she served as a VISTA Volunteer in one of the two housing projects in McKeesport, PA for a year. There she met her future husband, Major Mason III. They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 29th, 2019. She earned a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Master’s in Education from the University of Pittsburgh. After teaching in Pittsburgh for a year and earning a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Master’s in Education from the University of Pittsburgh, she gave birth to their two children, Major A. Mason IV (in April of 1975) and Arianna Mason (in March of 1977). Her career continued when she worked for the National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh Section as a Volunteer Director and later Executive Director of Friends Indeed, a special juvenile justice project for ten years. While there, she founded the Community Service Project allowing juvenile delinquents to perform community service for nonprofit human service organizations. During that time, she was a founding member of the Volunteer Administrators of Southwestern PA (VASP) and a charter member and first Vice President of the Pennsylvania Association for Volunteerism (PAV) where she directed a statewide convention.

After a short time at the United Way of Allegheny County she was hired as the Executive Director of Hunger Services Network where she served for 14 years, developing the Pantry Management Training Project to train welfare recipients for work in the nonprofit world through training on their county-wide Emergency Food Assistance Hotlines and network. Mason also created the Food Stamp Outreach & Enrollment Program, a five-county program to enroll eligible households in what is now the federal SNAP Program. Hunger Services Network became a project of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh where it continues to this day.

Shifting to the aging arena, Mason served as the interim President and CEO of the Lutheran Service Society of Western PA for one year, then briefly as the Executive Director of Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers. IVC became part of Family Services of Western PA. Before retiring from full-time work in 2012, Ann served as the Guardianship Program Director for Ursuline Senior Services (now Ursuline Support Services) becoming their first National Certified Guardian. Job responsibilities included supervising a staff of 17 with a total caseload of 200+ seniors as well as serving as Guardian of Person and Estate for ten incapacitated seniors.

In September 2012, Ann and her husband Major served as the Volunteer Coordinators for the 97th Annual Convention of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), returning to her early love of working with volunteers. In August, 2013, she served as the Volunteer Coordinator for the 37th national convention of NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives). In October 2014, Mason was the Volunteer Coordinator for the 35th National Genealogical Conference of AAHGS, Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. She now serves as the Treasurer of the local Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch of ASALH as well as for the Black & White Reunion for over ten years, and BPEP (Black Political Empowerment Project).

She has consistently volunteered throughout her career with various professional and cause-oriented organizations including Beginning with Books, Hunger Action Network in Harrisburg, and the Black & White Reunion among others. For over 19 years she has been active with the Community of Reconciliation Church, serving on the Church Council, as a worship leader and consecrated Lay Preacher, in addition to singing in the choir and working on the Worship Renewal Team, the Finance Committee and the Giving Ministry.

She believes in the value of volunteering for children, youth and adults. It is one of the best ways in the society for the haves and have-nots to work together and learn from each other. She and her husband, Major A. Mason III Ph.D. along with their daughter Arianna Mason have been writing a book on Daisy Elizabeth Adams Lampkin, civil rights and human rights icon of the 20th century.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, Ann asks that donations be made to the organizations she worked closely with, Community of Reconciliation Church, ASALH, Black & White Reunion and BPEP among others.

A Memorial Service is being held on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 2 p.m. in Community of Reconciliation Church, 100 N. Bellfield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15123.

Professional services entrusted to ROBERT A. WATERS FUNERAL HOME, 2326 Jenny Lind Street, McKeesport, PA 15132.
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