Mary H. Degennaro

Mary Sturdivant Heard DeGennaro died peacefully on May 30, 2025, after a long illness. Mary was born November 23, 1943, at the Telfair Hospital in Savannah, Georgia, the only daughter of Richard Willis Heard, Jr. and Alice Riddle Read Heard.

Mary grew up at “Wildwood,” an idyllic estate on the Back Burnside River near Bethesda and across the marsh from Wormsloe Plantation. Early in her life she became infatuated with horses, competing in local quarter horse competitions. She attended Pape School, the Oldfields School, and Hannah Moore Academy in Maryland, where she excelled at equestrian sports and made many lifelong friends. She later taught riding at Hannah Moore until moving back to Savannah to teach riding, breed thoroughbreds, and board horses.

Mary married Pat DeGennaro in 1981, living at Wildwood. Pat owned and operated a marine fabrication business and Mary maintained her horse business, where she trained the original members of the Savannah Police Department’s Mounted Patrol when it was reestablished in 1989. Friends will remember the annual oyster roasts and softball games they hosted each winter. 

Mary was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Pasquale Dominic DeGennaro; and brothers, Richard Willis Heard, III and John King Heard.

Mary is survived by her brothers, Keith Read Heard (Betty) and Shelley Read Heard (Elise); her sister-in-law, Pamela Lichtenberg Heard; nephew, Erik Richard Heard (Amanda); and nieces, Joanna Wright Heard Suarez (Adolfo), Marsha Heard (David Greenebaum), Stacia Jean Heard, and Sarah Elizabeth Heard; several grandnephews and grandnieces; and a host of cousins.

The family would like to thank Mary’s caregivers who took such good care of her in her later years.

A memorial will be held on Monday, June 23, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. at Baker McCullough Funeral Home, Hodgson Memorial Chapel (7415 Hodgson Memorial Drive Savannah, GA 31406).

Visitation will be held on Monday, June 23, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in honor of Mary Heard DeGennaro to Hospice Savannah, Inc.