WHO IS MARILYN MINDELL?

In 1971, Marilyn Mindell, along with Henry Use, then director of music at San Mateo High School, recognized that there was a void in the community of presenting music, dance and theater to the children of San Mateo County.  With the help and encouragement of music educators, school administrators, and classroom teachers, PAYS was founded and has been going strong for 35 years!

Marilyn grew up in Poland but immigrated to the U.S. when she was 7 years old, along with her mother, who was their sole support.  She graduated from Hunter College in New York City with a BA in Music, and, after marrying her husband Harold, moved to California, where she worked in public relations and began teaching piano.

She was an active parent in the public schools in San Mateo, and in addition to starting PAYS, was the founder of the Music Bank of San Mateo, lending instruments to students in the public schools; was responsible for the publication of AREDBAT, an arts resource directory for the Bay Area; and in the 1980s spearheaded the fundraising efforts to remodel and support the San Mateo Performing Arts Center, where all the PAYS programs are held.

After many years of service to the PAYS organization, Marilyn died in January 2002.