MaryAnn Grace Capobianco Billings

Born September 16, 1927, in St. Louis, Missouri

Passed away at home with her loving family, January 5, 2017, in Spring, Texas

Preceded in death by her son, Scott Matthew Billings and her parents Christine Davi and Alfonse Capobianco.

MaryAnn grew up in an area of St. Louis commonly known as "The Hill", a community of residents of mostly Italian descent.  After high school she worked for AT&T where she quickly became a supervisor.

In 1947, she met Dale Billings, a young jazz musician, who was playing saxophone in a band on the Riverboat Admiral on the Mississippi River.  Three years later they married and eventually had four children – Pam, Paul, Jeff, and Scott.  In 1962 they re-settled in Long Beach, California.

MaryAnn continued her education in California, earning first her AA degree in 1968, then her BA degree in 1972, and in 1974 her Master's degree in Early Childhood Development from California State University Long Beach (CSULB).

Among her many accomplishments, MaryAnn taught at Long Beach City College where she was also the Director of the Child Development Center.  She also held this position at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California until she retired.  She was the Faculty Senate Secretary, an elected member of the Education Policies Committee, Treasurer and then Co-Chair of the AHEA Student Member Section of CSULB.  She served a term as President of the Pilot Club of Pasadena, California, was on the Board of Directors of the Escalon School, and volunteered at the library at Mark Twain Elementary School.