Joan & Elliot Kocen
The purpose of the Kocen Memorial Scholarships is to encourage continuing education in the arts by financially supporting graduating Calvert County high school seniors. The Kocen Scholarships have awarded over $13,000 to hard-working Calvert County students.
About the Kocens
Elliot Donald Kocen, 82, of Solomons, MD, passed away suddenly on March 12, 2018 in Sunderland, MD. Born August 18, 1935 in Richmond, VA, he was the son of the late Louis Kocen and Mina Janet (Scher) Kocen. Elliot married his late wife, Joan McGill Kocen on February 13, 1979 in Alexandria, VA. He graduated from the University of Maryland in 1958 and from The American University in 1983. Elliot was a Mortgage Broker for Jefferson Mortgage Group LLC, Washington, DC. He was a member of the Solomons Island Yacht Club, Calvert Historical Society, and the Solomons River Walk to name a few. Elliot loved boats and was a long-time member of the Solomons Island Yacht Club which he joined in 1992. He served as treasurer and was on the audit committee for a few years. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy, serving during the Cuban missile crisis. He has been a strong supporter of many community charities. He also wrote a book, “A History of Rousby Hall”, which is available at the Calvert Historical Society. He and his wife lived at Rousby Hall for many years before moving to their final residence on Solomons Island.
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Joan McGill Kocen, 69, of Solomons, MD, passed away suddenly on March 12, 2018 in Sunderland, MD. Born March 13, 1948 in Concord, NC, she was the daughter of the late Neil McGill and Anne (Lovett) McGill. Joan graduated from Grimsley High School in 1966 and from East Carolina University in 1970. Joan married the late Elliot Kocen on February 13, 1979 in Alexandria, VA. She and Elliot moved to Calvert County from Chevy Chase, MD in 1986. Joan was an artist and was a member of the Yacht Club, Calvert Historic Society, Hospice, Calvert Garden Club, Calvert Showcase and the Solomons River Walk. Through the contributions of the Kocen family, the Arts Council of Calvert County established the Kocen scholarship awards.
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Previous Scholarship Recipients: Catelyn Kreutzer, Rachel Brandon, Jackie Wealer, Ethan Sparks, Sarah Dudley, Rahdeeq Johnson
Mary Beth Harry
The purpose of the Mary Beth Harry Memorial Scholarship is to recognize the achievement of
high school students who have demonstrated a love and a talent for art. The monetary gift of the
scholarship will provide financial assistance for further arts education.
About Mary Beth Harry
Mary Elizabeth (Mary Beth) Harry moved to Calvert County in 1992. Born in Baltimore in 1954, Mary Beth graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art and developed her artistic talent for naturalistic paintings with a whimsical flare. Classically trained, she believed art should not be taken too seriously. Joining the CalvART Gallery in 2005, Mary Beth also displayed her art in galleries in Baltimore and Florida. She volunteered at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Art Center. She painted custom murals through her business, Lone Palm Murals, and created a mural for Mt. Harmony Elementary School in Owings. Mary Beth volunteered her talents to charitable causes and painted murals for sick children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She enjoyed a number of hobbies, including traveling and spending time walking the beaches near her home at Cove Point. The children’s book, Bay Babies, written by Cathy Green, is illustrated by Mary Beth. Bay Babies tells the stories of the creatures found in the Chesapeake Bay. From seahorses to the blue crabs that populate the waters along the Bay, Mary Beth has beautifully drawn the sea creatures as they tell their stories of survival. At 56, Mary Beth sadly passed away due to cancer. Her work will always be cherished by those fortunate enough to have a piece of art or a mural by Mary Beth.
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As a tribute to her, the Arts Council of Calvert County named the student art gallery in her honor in 2011, and through the contributions of her friends and colleagues, the Arts Council established the Mary Beth Harry Memorial Scholarship.