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Behind the Scenes:
Mary Alhart Don Alhart’s wife making sure no one misses a beat a home By Beth Emley
T
he most senior television news anchor in Rochester, Don Alhart of WHAM-TV NEWS (Channel 13), has taken the pulse of the community for over 40 years. But as the old saying goes, behind every great man there’s a great woman. And back at home in the Alhart household, Don’s wife, Mary, has an equally steady hand on the family’s pulse — making sure no one misses a beat. The couple’s story began when the two met when he was hosting a Miss Rochester Pageant and she was one of the contestants. They married in 1970. Mary, 63, and Don, 69, have three adult children—Todd, Jennifer and Jon. They also have three grandchildren and a fourth on the way. Except for a brief period when she worked as a secretary for Eastman Kodak early in their marriage, Mary has been a homemaker most of her married life. “I make it all happen. I know what our kids are doing and I tie it all together. I am the main link and the behind-the-scenes coordinator,” Mary said. She’s a petite brunette with a flair for fashion and an appearance that belies her age. She acknowledges that she’s the one who keeps everything at home running smoothly. She’s cooked and cleaned and kept the children’s schedules straight for years. Mary admitted their life hasn’t always been carefree. When she and 14
55 PLUS - July / August 2013