Mary Jo Alibrio

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Mary Jo "MJ" Alibrio, a loving wife & mother, and fiercely loyal friend. She left us free of any suffering or pain on October 08, 2025 in Concord, NH. Her immediate family was present and held her close through every final step of her journey. She was 75 years old.

Mary Jo was born in Rochester, NY on December 20, 1949 to Edward and Letitia Mayer. From a very young age, it was apparent that Mary Jo was drawn to literature, the arts and all things educational. An avid reader, she would often be caught under a blanket with a book and a flashlight well past bedtime.

After graduating from St Joseph’s High School, Mary Jo went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree from Binghamton University and her Master’s Degree from SUNY Albany. Her unquenchable thirst for knowledge and nurturing spirit led her to a career as an educator, although her true passion was writing. She took roots in Troy, NY teaching high school English. It was during this time that she met some of her closest friends and her husband, Eugene “Gino” Alibrio. They shared a mutual love of cooking, hosting joyful gatherings of amazing people, and giving back to their community. They loved camping together and being in the peaceful embrace of nature; particularly Acadia National Park in Maine. They also shared a loving desire to be parents, and shortly after their marriage in 1981, they relocated to Bedford, NH where their children Gina and John were born.

In New Hampshire, Mary Jo continued her career as an educator in the Bedford school district. She taught eighth grade English for multiple years at McKelvie Middle School, and participated in the school’s renowned Mt. Cardigan Unit, where students and teachers spent a week of a specialized curriculum together while camping in the White Mountains. Mary Jo redirected her focus on writing later in her career as a grant writer for New Hampshire Public Radio. She also served on the board of the New Hampshire Writer’s Project and was a member of Yogurt Poets & several other writers’ groups.

Mary Jo’s final landing in her career before her retirement was Program Coordinator at the University of New Hampshire Center for the Humanities. In addition to being the administrative backbone of the Center, Mary Jo provided leadership on a number of initiatives including establishing the first study abroad program at UNH to an African country, through the launching of the Ghana program. She also was central to the creation of the documentary “Uprooted: Heartache and Hope In New Hampshire” and was a contributor to the recently published collection of stories entitled “How the Light Gets In”.

Apart from her professional accomplishments, Mary Jo was well known for her kindness and compassion towards others. She had a generous heart, always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. She was a deeply spiritual individual; drawn to learning about the foundations of all religions. She loved the writings of Joseph Campbell and Pema Chodron. She was inspired by the teachings of the Dalai Lama. She sought to learn all she could about the common threads that bind us together as human beings, and as a result, she effortlessly impacted the lives of so many people in a positive way.

As a teacher she is remembered as a person who saw the potential in her students, yet led with empathy. She is remembered for her boundless love and unwavering support as a partner and friend. She was a selfless, protective and courageous mother. She was a beautiful and complex human and she was so loved. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Mary Jo is survived by her husband Eugene “Gino” Alibrio of Concord NH, her son John Alibrio of Hooksett, NH, her daughter Gina Alibrio of Portland, ME and her two brothers; Peter Mayer and Edward Paul Mayer.

A memorial service to celebrate Mary Jo Alibrio's life will be held on November 08, 2025 at 1pm at the Cremation Society of New Hampshire (243 Hanover St. Manchester, NH 03104) We invite all who knew and loved Mary Jo to attend.