Marial Desolyn Bino

HURLEY, Wis. - Marial Desolyn Bino, 102, a long-time Hurley educator, ended her earthly adventure on Nov. 22, 2018.

Born May 11, 1916, in Hurley to Mary (Fragno) and John Bino Sr., Marial often recounted how she and her siblings enjoyed a loving, care-free, adventurous childhood. She was pre-deceased by her parents, her siblings and their spouses, Louise (John) Maddock, John (Antoinette) Bino Jr., Catherine (Albert) Faust, Desolyn (James) Maccani and her nephew, James Maccani Jr.

Marial was a woman with varied interests and an unparalleled zest for life. In her younger years, she was a swimmer, downhill skier, hiker and bicyclist. In later years, she could be found walking her dog, Faun, on the streets of Hurley. An avid reader and New York Times crossword enthusiast, she always completed them in ink while listening to CNN or classical music.

According to Marial, she had been on one side or the other of the academic desk for most of her life. A 1934 graduate of the Lincoln (Hurley) High School, she attended Ironwood Junior College (Gogebic Community College), received a Bachelor of Education at Superior State College (UW-Superior), and both a Master of Science in library science and an Master of Arts in developmental psychology from Columbia University in New York. She also studied in Innsbruck, Austria.

Her teaching career included every level, from elementary to college. In the early 1940s, she was one of few women teaching aeronautics ground instruction and civil air law through the Civilian Pilot Training Program at Stout State College (UW-Stout) and Eau Claire State College (UW-Eau Claire). These students were training to be World War II pilots. She also worked for the Iron County Social Services Department as a social worker.

Before her tenure in the Hurley School District, she taught in Oma, Iron Belt and Arbor Vitae-Woodruff. Hired first as a fourth-grade teacher at the Southside School in Hurley in 1950, Miss Bino became the librarian for the entire school district in 1952. While serving on the Hurley faculty, she was invited to be a lecturer at Gogebic Community College, UW-Platteville, and numerous educational conferences and service organizations. Though she retired in 1989, she never stopped teaching or learning. She also served one term on the Hurley City Council.

Miss Bino was recognized by the Hurley Education Foundation as a Distinguished Alumni in 2008. Though she insisted, "I don't deserve to be singled out; I was just doing the job I loved," many of her former students would disagree. Not only did she provide expert advice in library research and literature, she also organized both library and audio-visual clubs. These service clubs were assets to both the faculty and other students. Over the years, the library club expanded its outreach to the community. Former students talk fondly of the activities, events and trips they organized through the club. There were candy and pie sales, storytelling in the elementary schools, historical and wedding dress fashion shows, birthday and historical calendars, and educational trips to Minneapolis, Chicago and New York.

A world traveler, Marial was known for collecting and sharing her discoveries with schools and community groups. She traveled throughout the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Europe, South America, Russia, China, Tibet, Malaysia and Morocco, collecting early books and writing materials, primitive dolls and native hats. A 2004 trip down the Amazon River with her grandnephews added still more artifacts to these collections.

Always the teacher, Miss Bino often said that even though we (as a country) continue to be faced with both national and global challenges, she remained optimistic about the future. According to her, "The family and community must always strive to provide all children with personal and educational skills needed to cope with and adapt to an ever-changing world." She emphasized, "Each of us must also think of himself as a citizen of the world, not just Hurley, Wisconsin, or the United States and do everything to protect it."

Marial was "overjoyed to have lived in these exciting, challenging, and dynamic times." She often offered this toast, "To life; the great adventure."

She is survived by her nephew and nieces, Jay (Margaret, deceased) Maddock, of Big Rock, Ill .; Kay (Ted) Kolodziej, of Roselle, Ill .; Mary Ann (Gary) Berger, of Fitchburg; Kathryn (Michael) Levra, of Hurley; and Karen Vukusich, of Bessemer, Mich., and their families. She shared a special relationship with her grandnephews, Christopher (Sarah Reichert) Berger and their daughter, Grace Marial, of Minneapolis, Minn., and Daniel (Heather) Berger and their sons, Jonathan and Charles, of Seattle, Wash.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 10, preceded by a visitation at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Hurley. Rev. Frank Kordek, OFM will be the celebrant. Marial will be placed to rest next to her parents in the family plot at St. Mary's Cemetery in the spring.

In lieu of flowers or plants, please consider a donation to St. Mary's Church, the Hurley Education Foundation or a charity of choice in Marial's memory.

The family would like to thank the staff of Sky View Nursing Center for their care and compassion given to Marial over the last years. Heartfelt thanks especially go to Sharon, Lois and Bill, Amelia, Diana, and Senja for their friendship, visits, cards and letters.

"I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit." - John Steinbeck

Private online condolences may be sent to mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com or 2350 Fitchburg Road, Fitchburg, WI 53593.

Mckevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, Ironwood, is assisting the family.