Manatee County School Board member dies

A lifelong educator and a member of the Manatee County School Board, Dr. Mary Cantrell died July 12.

Cantrell, 71, kept her battle against bone marrow cancer private until she entered hospice care in Pinellas County last week.

Although her family and friends who knew of her illness and visited her at the facility believed Cantrell's health was improving, her condition took a dive over the last few days, until she died over the weekend.

Cantrell leaves behind her husband of 50 years, Louis, five children and two grandchildren.

Her colleagues will remember her by her lengthy career in education, her passion for students and vocational learning and her quiet but deliberate role on the School Board, to which she was elected in November 2014.

Cantrell ousted former School Board Chairwoman Julie Aranibar, and was likely considered the underdog in the race, Cantrell told the Observer recently.

She knew she had cancer when she ran for the District 5 seat, but she didn't let the diagnosis interfere with her campaign, and she promised to serve on the School Board for as long as she was physically able.

She spent nearly five decades as an educator, which included 18 years as the director of Manatee Technical College, which was previously known as Manatee Technical Institute under her leadership.

"Her passion for technical, career and adult education, and her devotion to excellence among students and staff transformed MTC into one of the premier technical educational centers in the nation," Superintendent Diana Green said. "Her enthusiasm and pursuit of achievement began the tradition that has resulted in MTC students winning more medals at the national SkillsUSA competition than any other technical school in the country."

The main hall at the main MTC campus, located on State Road 70, is named after Cantrell, and serves as a reminder of her lasting legacy in Manatee County's education system, School Board Chairman Bob Gause said.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].