Remembering Enid Mastrianni
I recently learned about Enid Mastriani, who passed away after a terrible illness back in December of 2024. While she only lived to the young age of 62, her legacy in the Glens Falls area is incredible. As I read her obituary, I learned that she founded the Glens Falls Community Garden back in 2009 and had continuously overseen its development. When I first visited the area in 2015, I remember walking through that garden, admiring all the various plants and flowers. It is a small parcel of land across the street from the Ridge Street fire station as well as a children’s playground, which is now turning into a local dog park.
Starting a community garden, as I learned, was not surprising in the trajectory of her life. Born in the 1960’s to Joseph and Miriam Hallenbeck Mastrianni, Enid was, as the obituary writer put it, “was five feet of fierce resistance to inequity and injustice, a tireless champion for those less fortunate.” She worked or volunteered with many activist groups, from Welfare Warriers, Get Your Girl On, or Planned Parenthood, even organizing the Glens Falls Women’s March nearly ten years ago.
Her fascination with antiquities allowed her to run the Glenwood Manor, a local antique shop. Michael and I have been to that shop many, many times over the years as well as a plethora of other antique shops in the surrounding area. From her obituary, she came across “a rare Chinese porcelain bowl from the Song Dynasty which she sold through Sotheby’s.” Sometimes things that people deem as trash could shed light on incredible histories of the world. And from reading about Enid, her education in Photography, Political Science, Feminist Theory, and recreational birdwatching allowed allow to appreciate the “beauty in objects overlooked by others.”
Traveling was also a passion, as she lived in New York City, England, San Francisco and New Zealand, exploring many historical sites and learning about the world. Including opening up a restaurant in Trinidad. She married Hui Cox, a musician, and was involved in local projects, like the Glens Falls Tree Commission, which is responsible for managing all the trees in the city. I learned about an issue involving that commission involving a disagreement over access to city proposals of those on the commission as well as a lack of follow-through with applying to county grants for tree projects. After a heated discussion at a September Common Council relating to the tree commission, Enid wrote, “The biggest problem was the lack of access to the request for proposals when we asked for them. We should have been able to see those as part of our role. Also, there were grants sitting there through the state we wanted to apply for and there was no action to move forward. If you and we hadn’t pushed for the one grant they did apply for that wouldn’t have happened either. Also, it’s not true that we never met before this Mayor took over. Sometimes we didn’t have a quorum, but Mayor Hall wouldn’t cancel the meetings. We would meet and try to get work done.”
Moving past politics, Enid Mastriani’s fascination about history allowed her to learn more about the Underground Railroad History Project, something that I did not know existed. Given the tumultuous nature of Federal websites removing moments in our nation’s history, the Underground Railroad History Project is incredibly important. They are in the process of building an interpretative center to allow me to understand the history of the underground railroads and the stories of triumph and freedom throughout. Prior to Enid’s death, she provided a generous donation to the project as well as endowed a scholarship for single mothers enrolled in Adirondack Community College.
She left behind not only her parents and husband, but her brothers, Joseph and James Mastrianni, and her beloved nieces, Martha, Grace, Lucy, and Marin Mastrianni. As I continue to learn about Enid’s life and her incredibly impactful legacy, I truly wish that I could have met her. Her obituary reads, “always interested in new opinions and unconventional outlooks, Enid delighted in meeting and talking with others.” Her written work is still available on the Adirondack Almanack. I look forward to continuing to read her writing, hear stories from those that knew her, and fully understand the legacy that she left behind.
Rest well, Enid. Your husband, family, and friends will continue to build upon your legacy and make the world a better place.
