Mary L. Vanacore Obituary (1943 - 2020)

"As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you get to play only one round." Ben Hogan The Serrano community recently lost one of its warmest smiles and most stylish and avid golfers with March 5 passing of Mary Vanacore. Born Mary Louise Martinez in El Dorado, KS, on January 29, 1943, Mary was one of five children. Her childhood was filled with memories of playing outside, spending time with friends, and large family gatherings. After graduating from high school, she attended college in San Diego, where she met her husband of 57 years, Frank Vanacore. Frank and Mary settled in Sacramento to raise their family. Together, they built strong and lasting friendships. From her bowling league to monthly Bunco games to working for the State of California, Mary always invested in her friends and those around her. She excelled at all she did. Together with their friends, Frank and Mary supported area sports and were instrumental in building College Glen Little League, which continues to serve generations of children. Frank and Mary moved to the Serrano community in 1997 to enjoy retirement and spend time doing what they loved - playing golf. Serrano came to represent the very best of home as Mary cultivated close friendships, spent time in Serrano's beautiful outdoor setting, shared meals with family and friends in the Clubhouse and delighted in her grandchildren. And --she played golf, a lot of golf! She had great golf style and often played up to four times a week. It was at Serrano that she hit her hole-in-one and earned the SWGG 2019 Most Inspirational Player award.