An active sailor in her teens, Diana developed a life-long passion for the water. She saw the potential to encourage other young women to do the same and discovered her gift for teaching; and, over 50 years, has instructed two generations of sailors. She helped develop junior sailing programs at the Miles River and Tred Avon Yacht Clubs as well as at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, where she also served on the board of directors. In recognition of her outstanding leadership, Diana was elected to the US Junior Sailing Championship board of directors.

In 1970, the Mautz family moved to St. Michaels where Diana integrated quickly into the community. As the owner of the legendary Carpenter
Street Saloon, Diana’s vision and skills helped lead the town’s business community, including the creation of the St. Michaels Business Association. She’s been recognized as a Talbot County Chamber of Commerce Business Woman of the Year and a Girls Scouts of the Chesapeake’s Humanitarian of the Year showing the depth and breadth of her civic activities. She has supported many organizations, from the Red Cross to the Waterfowl Festival to Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers. Perhaps dearest to her heart are the Volunteer Fire Departments of St. Michaels and Tilghman Island, where she is an honorary member. Her St. Patrick’s Day Shopping Cart Race, benefitting the St. Michaels Fire Department, has grown into one of the town’s most anticipated and fun-filled fundraisers.

With her beloved husband, the late Dr. John Mautz, Diana has two sons, Johnny and Dan, both of whom continue their mother’s legacy of community service: Johnny, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, and Dan, a Red Cross and fire department volunteer.

Suffering a major stroke several years ago, Diana has made tremendous progress following her own “never, never, never give up” and so continues today as a mentor and leader in our community. It is with great pride, we honor Diana Mautz as our recipient of the 2015 Women & Girls Fund Award.