After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Mary Beittel went passed away the morning of Saturday, August 19th. She was loved by many and will be missed. Mary and her husband served for over three decades as the leadership partnership which created and managed The Open Shelter in Columbus. Mary and Kent were were stalwart champions for the homeless, those caught in poverty and those marginalized. Mary worked best in the background and had strong organizational skills in keeping the books and handling finances. She balanced Kent's passion and outspokenness with quiet effectiveness and calming steady management. They were great partners and loved each other protectively. She loved working with people who were in desperate and chaotic situations, giving them hope and an opportunity to recover her life. She had a great sense honor and was stubborn in her mission to stand up for those who live on the edge. The Free Press offers condolences to her family and honors her as a Free Press hero.