By Nathan Carrick

Staff Writer

SILVER SPRING - At an afternoon viewing for County Council member Marilyn J. Praisner on Monday, Sharon DiFonzo stood in a line of mourners that stretched well into the lobby. As a former school board member who served with Praisner, DiFonzo knew the former CIA analyst as well as anybody and said she had found her calling in public service.

"She loved it, she thrived on it," DiFonzo said. "It was in her blood. It was her nature." But the "it" isn't easy to pin down. In her life, Praisner wore many hats.

The longest serving member on the Montgomery County Council, Praisner passed away Friday of complications after heart-valve replacement surgery at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda. She was 66.

Praisner recently served as president of the County Council, her third term as the legislative body's head, and was twice president of the Board of Education. She was an intelligence analyst at the CIA for 16 years before entering politics, and her entrance into the Montgomery County political scene was made as a PTA activist.

DiFonzo and Praisner were part of a group of eight women who met for lunch every Friday. "We talked about politics, schools, gossip, everything that friends talk about," DiFonzo said. The group met the Friday before Praisner was scheduled for surgery.

"You could tell it was there up in the front of her mind, but she wasn't visibly worried about it. But you could tell it was on her mind," DiFonzo said.

A quick study who was notorious for paying meticulous attention to detail, Praisner was known as an extremely organized multi-tasker.

While hospitalized in November following two automobile accidents that left Praisner with a collapsed lung, doctors discovered her heart condition and scheduled her for valve replacement surgery.

Praisner worked late into the night at her office in the County Council building on the Tuesday before her surgery. Her fellow council members were particularly hard-hit by Praisner's untimely passing.

Council Vice President Phil Andrews said, "Marilyn Praisner was a model public official, remarkably hard-working, exceptionally conscientious about serving her constituents and always living up to the trust placed in her by the public."

"It is difficult to convey the sense of loss that I, and everyone associated with Montgomery County, feel in this moment. Small in stature, she was one of the true giants of Montgomery County," Council member Roer Berliner said.

The Council's activities on Monday were postponed and an abbreviated session on Tuesday afternoon started with a moment of silence. Each council member placed a red rose on a small shrine at Praisner's empty seat.

Council member Marc Elrich said, "I am devastated by the loss of my friend. Marilyn brought so much knowledge and perspective to our discussions that it is hard to fully grasp what losing her means."

"Our hearts are broken and we are devastated by the news of Mrs. Praisner's passing. She was my friend and mentor. She blazed a trail for so many women in public life and I will always be grateful for the roll she played in my own development," Council member Valerie Ervin said.

"Marilyn knew the county, its issues and her constituency, inside and out. She approached her work with passion and determination. I hope her family can take comfort in the fact that she truly made a difference in the world," Council member Nancy Floreen said.

Council member George Leventhal said, "I had a profound respect for her knowledge, her experience, her perspective and her dedication to public service. I will never forget her example of tireless commitment and I know that for years to come, before a tough vote, Council members, including me, will wonder, 'What would Marilyn do?'"

Council member Duchy Trachtenberg said, "Marilyn Praisner was my best friend and mentor. Her loss will be felt, not only within the Council, but throughout this County and State. Marilyn always led from the heart."

At a special meeting with the press on Monday, Council President Mike Knapp said that Praisner was a legend on the council. "Her quarter century of service in office, first on the Board of Education and then on the County Council, was nothing short of extraordinary. The multiple honors she received tell only part of her story - a story spent serving her neighbors, her community, and her home state, in so many ways."

But eulogizing didn't come just from Praisner's co-workers on the County Council. Rockville Mayor Susan Hoffmann said, "Praisner was a great public servant who served Montgomery County with devotion. Marilyn was a personal friend. I shall miss her many kindnesses, her wise counsel and her tenacious commitment to her vision for the county."

County Executive Isiah Leggett said, "Nobody in Montgomery County government ever worked harder, knew more, or cared more than Marilyn Praisner."

Chris Van Hollen, Congressman from Maryland's 4th district, said, "The death of Marilyn Praisner is a devastating loss for our community. Marilyn was known as one of the hardest working members of the Montgomery County Council. She was a dedicated public servant with a proficient knowledge of the budget process. She was respected and admired by all her colleagues and constituents. I hope that her family can take comfort in knowing that the entire community is grieving with them at this sad time."

"She was loyal to a fault," DiFonzo said. "She slowed down after November, but this is what she does. She did it with all her being."

Photo by Bill Wyckoff