SPCC Gala Honorees Are Dedicated To Founders’ Mission

Part 2: Lee Marston and Joan Tiernan

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In 2020, the Severna Park Community Center (SPCC) planned to honor Andy Borland, Mark Corneal, Carl Gutschick, Charlie Kreter, Lee Marston, Jeff Norris, Terry Schoener, John Strange and Joan Tiernan at the annual fundraising gala before it was canceled. These nine honorees are considered founding members of the SPCC and dedicated countless hours to establishing the community center that has served the community for over 25 years.

Marston and Tiernan have become lifelong supporters of the SPCC.

Tiernan moved to Severna Park in 1968 from Philadelphia with her husband and her daughters.

“When we moved down here, I was surprised that there wasn't a community center,” Tiernan said. “Where I grew up, we had a town that was defined; when we came down here, it was county.”

She attended Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, where she first heard that the church had purchased the YMCA. Tiernan was interested in getting involved for two reasons.

“One of which was that this would be a community center for everybody from all the different developments,” she explained. “Secondly, I felt it was very important that it be for the entire community, not just Woods Church people, because it was associated with Woods.”

Tiernan became involved with making sure the SPCC was inclusive.

“I was on the board when the community center was getting formed, and one of the discussions we had many times was how to make sure that the community realized that the community center was for everybody,” Tiernan said. “It was not just Severna Park. We wanted to spread the word to people in Pasadena, in Glen Burnie, in Annapolis.”

Tiernan was a part of the capital campaign, a group that raises money for renovations, under Andy Borland. After taking some time off, she currently sits on the board of directors and the gala committee.

Although Marston didn’t move to Severna Park permanently until 1966, his grandparents owned property on the Severn River, which now houses St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal Church. He visited Severna Park for the first time in 1933, and visited every year before he moved. Marston’s family owns J.J Haines, which was once the largest floor covering distribution company in the U.S.

Before the YMCA went bankrupt, Marston was recruited by Newth Morris and Skip Carr to assist with a project. He helped Nancy Pascal, the wife of former County Executive Robert Pascal, with raising funds to build a swimming pool. When the YMCA closed, Marston was recruited again to help with securing the flooring and for help with fundraising efforts. His church, St. Martin’s-in-the-Field, had also teamed up with Woods Church, so getting involved seemed like the right thing to do.

“I just thought that's what we needed in the community,” Marston said. “And I was involved with the YMCA, so it seemed natural to really care about this.”

Marston’s connection with J.J. Haines came in handy when the SPCC was being built, and he even receives calls in the present day when a floor needs to be fixed.

“All the floor coverings that have ever been put in this place, as far as I know, have all been given by J.J. Haines,” he said.

He was also asked to help with many fundraisers because of his connections within the community and his unique approach.

“I just had never asked people for money, but it gives them the opportunity to give something if they want to give,” Marston said. “That's my rule. If they didn't want to contribute, they wouldn’t have.”

Marston and his wife, Sylvia, have both remained involved with the SPCC since its opening. Together, they served on the gala committee until recently, and Marston frequently uses the pool to exercise. He said he is happy to have contributed to establishing the SPCC, which he considers to be the heart of Severna Park.

“I’m very proud of it because it's attractive, it’s appealing and it's serving a lot of people,” Marston said.

Both Tiernan and Marston said they will continue to be involved in the community center in some way as long as they are able. They are grateful that the current leadership and executive director Sarah Elder have upheld the Christian values that the center was founded on, while making the SPCC a place for all.

“We're both hoping that this continues to grow and develop to serve the community as the original member intended,” Tiernan said.

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