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Mary Beth Clancy-Halayko
Celebrating Her Life and Legacy
Capital Region
Like many in our profession, massage therapy became a second career for Mary Beth after working in international business. Driven by a deep passion for helping others heal, she excelled in her new calling, leaving an unforgettable mark on everyone she encountered. Her colleague and friend Holly Huzar fondly remembers her:
“From her first entry into the field of Massage Therapy, it was clear Mary Beth had the energy and heart to sample everything this diverse field of health care offers. While continually expanding her skills, Mary Beth chose specialized massage work with athletes and premature babies, about as wide a range as imagined. Mary Beth would give sports massages to 7' tall players of the Albany Patroons Basketball league while at the same time building a practice for caring for the most delicate tiny preemie babies in the hospital. What a broad set of therapeutic skills!”
While working in the hospital, Mary Beth supported laboring mothers, provided infant massage in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and administered medical massage to patients. This experience inspired her to teach infant and labor and delivery massage, sharing her knowledge with others. Mary Beth was also deeply involved in hospice work, as Holly described:
“Another example of the range of Mary Beth's skills was evident when she became involved in Community Hospice. She visited residents in many nursing homes while supervising massage therapy students interning at the Hospice Inn, a homey hospital residence for people in their last days. All this was done while becoming involved in the Hospice Africa Partnership, a unique program in which New York State healthcare workers visit and support Hospice programs in South Africa and Zimbabwe.”
Mary Beth’s contributions extended beyond her hands-on work. She was a dedicated advocate for advancing the massage profession. As a board member of AMTA-NY and the New York State Massage Therapy Board—where she served seven years as chairperson—Mary Beth tirelessly worked to elevate standards in the field. She also served on the advisory board of the Center for Natural Wellness School of Massage Therapy, where she mentored many students over the years.
“Her tireless energy and unwavering dedication defined her. Mary Beth never turned down a challenge, whether visiting an extra patient, starting a new program, or supervising a group of students. If something needed to be done, all anyone had to do was ask, and she would enthusiastically step forward,” Holly recalls.
“Mary Beth brought her heart and soul into every endeavor. She cared deeply for her clients, whether they were the tiniest newborns or individuals taking their final breaths. She laughed with students, motivated athletes, and comforted grieving families. Her energy and diverse skill set were unmatched,” says Holly.
Her passing is a profound loss to the massage therapy community. The AMTA-NY Chapter is proud to honor Mary Beth Clancy-Halayko's life and celebrate her legacy—a legacy of compassion, dedication, and excellence in the art of healing.
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