Mary Martha Piazzon, 82, of Coupeville died Feb. 9, 2004.

Born on May 11, 1921, in Storo, Italy to Frank and Palmira Nascimbeni, she immigrated to the U.S. in 1928 for one year, returned to Italy and then reimmigrated to Detroit, Mich. the following year. In 1939 she graduated from Southwestern High School as an honor student having worked for the school simultaneously as a secretary. Though academics were important to her, playing ball was what she lived to do. On graduating she was hired for a secretarial position by the Roman Cleanser company of Detroit, in part because of her athletic prowess. As an All Star left fielder known by her nickname “Mickey Beni,” she contributed to two world championships. In 1944, respecting her family’s wishes, she turned down an offer to turn professional. In 1948, she was hired by the United Auto Workers and helped their to third place in the World Championship tournament. She retired as a ball player in 1949 when she married Anthony S. Piazzon, whom she would divorce in 1969. While at the UAW, she advanced to the position of executive secretary to Walter Ruether, president and founder. After serving the UAW for 42 years she retired in 1988.

In 1994 she moved to Coupeville and immediately engaged in town life and immersed herself in the community at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

She is survived by her son Gary Piazzon, his wife Dianne Deseck-Piazzon and their daughter Dana all of Coupeville; daughter Toni Piazzon of Bellingham; and sister Esther Beltrami of Raleigh, NC. She was preceded in death by her brother Frank Nascimbeni of Roseville, Mich.

A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 at St. Mary’s in Coupeville. A rosary will precede it Friday evening at 7 p.m. The family will hold a memorial gathering at the Coupeville Recreation Hall on Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. Friends are welcome to attend.