Mary Travers has left us. After battling leukemia for several years, she passed away earlier this evening.
I am truly at a loss for words. Her music, her passion, her beautiful smile, and most striking to me – her powerful presence. She carried on a tradition begun by artists like Ronnie Gilbert and instilled a spirit in her music that few could surpass – but all were inspired by. Her voice will live on.

Here are some notes posted on the Peter, Paul & Mary website:

A note from Peter Yarrow:

Surrounded by love with a spirit of quiet, grateful, celebration amongstmany friends who had gathered to be with her, Mary chose to leave us a fewminutes before 7:30 pm, this evening.

She was in no pain and was able to understand and respond to spoken wordseven up to some time late in the afternoon, just a few hours before her passing.

I was able to convey the thoughts, messages of appreciation and love, from many of you who contacted me.

It was an honor and a blessing to have been with Mary in this last, powerfulchapter in her life. She was Mary to a “T” until the end, nodding yesterdaywhen asked if she wanted to go shopping with the girls at the Mall, gently(but clearly) slapping away the arm of a nurse who didn’t stop doingsomething to Mary when she asked her not to (all this with her eyesunopened). I could sense her delight when I came to sit with her, massageher fingers as I always did on tour, and tell her all the things worthsaying to express my love, for quite a long period of time during the day.

She was a giant of a person, in spirit and heart, till the end. Missing herhas only just begun.

Love to you all,
Peter

From Noel Stookey:

“as a partner…she could be vexing and vulnerable in the same breath. as a friend she shared her concerns freely and without reservation. as an activist, she was brave, outspoken and inspiring – especially in her defense of the defenseless. and, as a performer, her charisma was a barely contained nervous energy – occasionally (and then only privately) revealed as stage fright.

sometimes frustratingly dismissive, i seldom heard her say she was sorry, yet she often displayed an immense generosity that would surprise even herself. witty, politically savvy, she was the master/mistress of the cutting exit line. once i was attempting to defend ronald reagan’s educational policy. she interrupted me with “oh, for heaven’s sake, do your homework!”, turned on her heel and walked away. need i say it turned out she was right?

as the relationships in the trio continued to shift and grow, mary’s insights and evolving comfort onstage drew her into the role of societal commentator and satirist; her genius revealed especially poking fun at the tumbling chaotic communications technology expanding around us.

her illness softened her outlook considerably. her work, her life and friends became more and more precious. and friends, especially women friends, closed ranks in the later years, returning in kindnesses so much of that which mary, their powerful feminine matriarch, had given them.

i am deadened and heartsick beyond words to consider a life without mary travers and honored beyond my wildest dreams to have shared her spirit and her career.”
– Noel Paul Stookey