Mary Jo (Banks) -Lyttle

Mary Jo Banks-Lyttle, 52, of Marion Center died December 21, 2015 at her late residence. She was the daughter of Ted and Connie (Kinter) Banks and was born September 18, 1963 in Indiana, PA. Mary Jo received both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree in business and business education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Mary Jo started her career with S & T Bank in 1986 as Assistant Director of Marketing. In 1989 she moved to Indiana University of Pennsylvania to take the role of Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and in 1992 she was named the Director of Alumni Relations at IUP. As the director, she has led the IUP Alumni Association and the Office of Alumni Relations for the past 23 years. Mary Jo was always focused on people, recognizing the success of others, including IUP's outstanding alumni, and she has been instrumental in building a strong board of volunteers and committees. Her business skills and marketing abilities helped her to lead the group in building revenue streams to support the alumni programming. Her accomplishments are well known by her peers, and she has been an invited presenter and has conducted workshops and presentations through the Council for Support of Education and the Pennsylvania State System. Through her leadership the Distinguished Alumni Awards program has developed into the highest honor presented by the University. A forward- thinking team builder, she has led the Association and her colleagues through two strategic planning processes which have significantly shaped the direction of the Alumni Association. She has been part of many important university initiatives, including the Long-Range Planning Committee, the Space Advisory Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee, the University Planning Council and on several key search committees. In the community she was a member of Zonta International and served as president of the Marion Center PTA. Mary Jo is survived by her husband, Kim E. Lyttle; son, Thomas M. and daughter Christina C. both at home. She is also survived by her parents, Ted and Connie Banks, of Marion Center and her brother TJ and wife Barbara Banks, also of Marion Center. Those who wish to honor Mary Jo may make memorial contributions to the Foundation for IUP, G1 Sutton Hall, 1011 South Drive, Indiana PA 15705 or the Visiting Nurses of Indiana County, 850 Hospital Road, Suite 3000 Indiana, PA 15701. A Memorial Service for Mary Jo will be held on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. at the Gorell Recital Hall in John Sutton Hall on the I.U.P. campus. A reception will follow at the Breezedale Alumni Center. The C. Frederick Bowser Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. To accommodate those attending the service, both the Clark Hall and Whitmyre Hall parking lots will be reserved that day for visitors. One of Mary Jo's favorite places to spend time was Breezedale's patio. Referbishing the patio became one of her many goals, so that it could be used more frequently thoughout the year, and others could appreciate and enjoy it as she did. Her family has suggested that anyone wishing to make a contribution in Mary Jo's memory may want to support this project. Those gifts should be made to the Foundation for IUP.