Mary Cordonat

Mary Cordonat was born on March 23, 1924, in Utica, New York, the middle child in a family of three siblings. Raised during the Great Depression, Mary developed an independent spirit early in life. Without informing her family, she enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, seeking a greater purpose beyond her hometown. She completed boot camp at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and went on to serve in California and New Mexico before deploying to Germany, where she worked alongside high-ranking officers at military headquarters.

Mary served over four years in uniform, earning an honorable discharge on July 20, 1948. Following her military service, she pursued her passion for fashion design, studying in New York City and later in Paris, where she refined her skills during an eight-month stay. Upon returning to New York, she met and married Joe Cordonat, a celebrated head chef on 5th Avenue. They built a life together filled with love, food, and family, raising a son and sharing a deep appreciation for culinary arts. Mary remains a proud veteran and a proud American. Her strength, style, and resilience shine through in her lifelong love of cooking, gardening, sewing, and fashion.