Marian Fryer

Marian Fryer, a Wheaton, Maryland, resident for more than 45 years, was widely regarded as Wheaton’s unofficial mayor because of her decades-long dedication to making Wheaton and Montgomery County better places to live, work, and raise a family. Living on Rose Lane just outside the Wheaton Urban District, she worked for more than 34 years as an administrative officer with several D.C. and federal government agencies before retiring in 1995, then founded Marian’s Connections, a home-based consignment boutique for women’s new and pre-owned clothing and accessories, in 1996. From 1996 to 2017 she was deeply involved in community life through leadership and service in numerous local organizations and committees, including the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee, the Wheaton Citizens Coalition, the Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee, Business and Economic Development, the Allied Civic Group, the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board, the Montgomery County Housing Advisory Committee, the Montgomery County Commission for Women, Leadership Montgomery, and the Wheaton and Kensington Chamber of Commerce, and she received many honors for community and economic development service. She also supported the arts by helping Montgomery County staff with Wheaton’s first submission to the Maryland State Arts Council for designation as an Arts and Entertainment District, served seniors as a certified Bone Builder trainer, and was active in New Creation Church in Wheaton. The oldest of six siblings, she was the mother of two children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, and she said that as a citizen of Montgomery County, she believed her role was to serve her community and support programs and activities that kept it healthy, viable, and stable.

Wheaton, Maryland · United States