Combal, Mary Schmid age 77, of Scarsdale New York, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2019. She was the daughter of Richard and Elva Schmid of Eden Valley, MN, who preceded her in death, as did her sister Carol Schmid Moody and brother John Schmid. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Pierre Combal, her daughters, Julie Combal-Olbert and Martine Combal, her sons-in-law, Graig Olbert and Patrick McDonald, her grandchildren Theodore Olbert and Madeleine McDonald, and her sister Margaret Schmid Bartelme of Scarsdale. A fearless woman of character with a passion for literature and the French language, She graduated Eden Valley High School in 1958 and attended St. Catherine's University in St. Paul Minnesota, graduating in 1962. Soon after she moved to France, where she received a Doctorat d'Université in comparative literature from the University de Toulouse in 1968. In 1973 she received her Maitrise in American Literature from the University of Lille and a PhD from Fordham University in 1983 in twentieth-century French literature. Mary served on the board of directors of the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), New York Metropolitan Chapter, and presented at AATF conferences on Francophone literature. She has written numerous book reviews for the French Review and was presented in 1991 with the Chevalier dans L'Ordre des Palmes Académiques by the French Republic, an honor bestowed to distinguished academics and figures in the world of culture and education. A devoted teacher of French language, Mary started her career as a professor at the University of Minnesota, Lehman College and Concordia University. However, it was at The Spence School in Manhattan where Mary found her calling in 1984. Mary taught French at Spence for 33 years and was head of the Foreign Language department for 14 years. Her goals in teaching were to open her students' eyes to the Francophone world, as well as other foreign languages and cultures, and impart to them passion, curiosity and joy. Mary was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and friend; she loved to entertain and was a wonderful cook. Time with family was spent traveling and sharing precious moments of her daughters' and grandchildren's lives. She loved ancient civilizations and the arts, taking any opportunity to go to a museum, a film, the theater, or to sing or dance. She instilled in her family a passion for the world and all the beauty, intellect, excitement and adventure it holds. Mary was a true and constant teacher. Her family thanks her concerned and caring friends, as she found comfort in their presence. A memorial service will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Scarsdale, NY on Friday, January 18, 2019 at 10am. In lieu of flowers, Mary's wishes were that gifts be made to The Spence School's Financial Aid Program. Gifts in her memory can be made online at spenceschool.org/…