Mary Goldenburg is a legend in Chamblee!
Mary Goldenburg will give you two reasons why she moved to Chamblee over 45 years ago; “It seemed like a good place to raise a family; and there are plenty of trees!” While house hunting with her (now late) husband, Adolph, back in 1970, she told him they found the right house when she looked out through the big picture window and saw only trees. It was the perfect place to begin her journey as a mother, a business owner, a public advocate, and a community leader.
With a background in law, Mary became active in local politics and had a desire to create a better community. Her first goal, around 1975, was to bring a public library to the City of Chamblee. This involved numerous meetings with the city council and eventually a proposal for the City to buy the land where the library now sits. To this day, it’s considered one of the best libraries in DeKalb County.
Several years after the library was built, Mary decided to run for City Council. She served on the council for 8 years from 1990 – 1998. In this time, she worked on numerous initiatives, including the designation of a new property for City Hall and a new location for the city’s Public Works Department. She worked closely with Patti Lankford to begin a recycling program, and rolled up her jeans in the Parks to clean up trash. She also proposed the idea to bring the community together for their very own 4th of July Fireworks in Keswick Park, which has evolved over the years to be one of the most spectacular fireworks displays in metro Atlanta! (Some might say it’s even better than Lenox!)
In 1998 Mary Goldenburg was voted in as the new Mayor of Chamblee and continued her drive as an advocate for cooperation and change. This extended to all areas of the City, from Buford Highway to Keswick Road (and everything in between). She was the guiding force behind the creation of an apartment managers’ organization; new sidewalks & streetscape improvements on Peachtree Rd., and a sidewalk initiative for pedestrians to cross Buford highway. She also formed strong bonds with the foreign community and was motivated to create a new generation of Americans.
Following her years as Mayor, Mary was a member of Keep Chamblee Beautiful; She taught English as a second language; held the position of President with the N. Dekalb Lions Club, and continues to believe the world can be a better place. She still lives in the same house where she raised her three children. She enjoys being outdoors, gardening, bird-watching, books & music.