MaryEllen Woodman is part of a multi-generation family of first responders comprised of law enforcement & firefighters in her hometown area of Stamford, CT. She began her professional career in Stamford, CT, and relocated with her employer to Texas in 1983. She had a long and successful career in Facilities Management and Information Technology, with an emphasis in telecommunications, network and project management, storage management, and problem analysis & resolution. Her work had both a domestic and global reach that included traveling across the USA, Europe, and Singapore. MaryEllen elected to retire in 2009 and increase her knowledge to learn & share with those impacted by ALS.
In the early 1990s MaryEllen learned that a former boss (then retired) had been diagnosed with ALS. In 2007 ALS would once again enter into MaryEllen's sphere. This time it would be much closer with her nephew/godson (Greenwich Police Sergeant Roger Petrone) being diagnosed at age 37. Within a year of Sergeant Petrone's diagnosis, the family learned of a family friend's son also having been diagnosed.
Upon Roger's diagnosis, MaryEllen immediately jumped in to become his advocate and learned the many facets of what impact ALS would have on him, his daughter, and their large extended family. During the first 18 months post diagnosis is when MaryEllen learned of ALS.net and the ALS Therapy Development Institute, often "stalking" its online ALS Forum.
In early 2009, Roger made the decision to provide his full support behind ALS.net. MaryEllen, Roger's daughter, Sydney, and the rest of their family followed in support along with Roger's fellow police department comrades and the Town of Greenwich. Through their continued active participation in the Tri-State Trek, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised for ALS.net research in direct support of Roger's 2009 declaration to solely fundraise for research being done at the ALS Therapy Development Institute.
During the 7 years following Roger's diagnosis, MaryEllen was also a primary caregiver for him until his passing in February 2014. MaryEllen continues to actively remain involved in the ALS community. She can often be found participating and lending support within the ALS community.