Greensgrow Founder Mary Seton Corboy Dies at 58

Mary Seton Corboy founded Greensgrow Farms in Kensington in 1997. She was named the Best Philadelphian in 2008.

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Mary Seton Corboy, the founder of Greensgrow Farms, died yesterday. She was 58.

Corboy, who Philadelphia magazine named the Best Philadelphian in 2008, founded Greensgrow with business partner Tom Sereduk.

“Greensgrow isn’t all Mary, of course — there are 11 employees, a seven-member board, and Blanche du Cat, the farm’s mascot,” we wrote then. “But in the neighborhood and the city’s food circles, Mary’s name and her enthusiasm are shorthand for the farm and its role as a rallying point for those committed to improving the city’s food supply.” Per that article, Corboy fought endometrial cancer about a decade ago.

“We are very saddened to inform all of you that our founder, friend, leader and Chief Idea Officer, Mary Seton Corboy, passed away on August 7th,” Greensgrow said in a statement. “Mary considered each and every individual who ‘touched’ Greensgrow to be a part of the family, and we want to assure you that the staff and Board of Greensgrow is fully committed to carrying on her legacy.”

In May, Food Tank named Corboy one of its 17 “farmer heroes.” In a 2010 interview with Victor Fiorillo, she said she preferred cheesesteak to roast pork. “It’s gross,” she said, “but so are we.”

Per her obituary, Corboy was the model for Andrew Wyeth’s “The Liberal” while she worked as a property manager for him. She graduated with a masters in political science from Villanova. In lieu of flowers, Corboy’s obit requests donations to Greensgrow in her memory.

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