Olga K. Mayo

Olga K. Mayo, 95, died peacefully on June 23rd, 2022 surrounded by family and friends. Her passing is as amazing as her long life well lived. She embraced her last chapter with grace and dignity, sharing stories, enjoying family and making new friends. Olga was born in Yonkers, NY on April 21, 1927 to John and Pauline Fedak Kavochka, both born in Galicia. She grew up in Yonkers with her sister Joan. During WWII, Olga worked in the Physics/Chemistry Lab at Alexander Smith Carpet helping to replace lab workers who had gone to war. Olga attended Colby Jr. College and was president of her class. Her education continued at Mary Hitchcock School of Medical Technology. As a Med Tech in Hanover, NH, she met her husband to be Richard A. Mayo studying at Dartmouth Medical School. They married on June 5th, 1950. Dick’s medical training took them to Boston and Cooperstown, NY before establishing an Orthopedic practice in Boston and then the South Shore. Olga worked in Medical Technology at Lennox Hill Hospital NY;  Blood Grouping Lab at Children’s Hospital and as Assistant Biochemist at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown. In 1957, Olga and Dick bought a lovely Victorian in Hingham where they lived for 60 years and is still in the family with their 5th Golden Retriever Misha to help continue the Mayo traditions. While raising 2 children, Olga was active in the Young Women’s and Mother’s Clubs, League of Women Voters and the MFA to name a few. As Members of the Boston Council for International Visitors, Olga and Dick hosted many visitors from the Soviet Union. The Mayo family of 4 enjoyed sailing the coast of Maine, Cape Cod and Caribbean as well as local day sails with grandchildren; ski trips in New England and a spectacular ski trip to the Dolomites in Italy when Tom and Nina were teenagers. Olga was Research Assistant and then Business Manager for Harvard Ukrainian Studies doing bibliographical work for Harvard Libraries. She did translations from Russian to English for Harvard and MIT. Olga was an avid reader, enjoyed the ballet, theater, opera, museums, historical sites, churches, studying Italian and Russian. Olga and Dick traveled the world in their 71 years together leaving no stone unturned. Olga is predeceased by her husband Richard; survived by sister Joan and brother-in-law Maurice; son Thomas; daughter Nina; daughter-in-law Sally; son-in-law John; granddaughter Christina and her husband Forrest; grandson Scott and his wife Willow; grandson Max; 3 great grandchildren Isla, Holden and Eloise. Olga was laid to rest in Hingham Cemetery on a hill in this beautiful arboretum overlooking the ocean where her sweetheart’s ashes were scattered 9 months ago. 

Veychnaya Pamyat-Eternal Memory/Vechne Pakoy-Eternal Peace

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