Resident Spotlight on Alma McMahon

Born on August 7, 1915, Alma McMahon was raised in Baltimore City with four sisters and one brother. She attended St. Elizabeth's Catholic School, where she excelled at typing and shorthand. Unexpectedly, her father died when Alma was 15, causing her to obtain a special permit that allowed her to leave school and go to work.

Ms. McMahon was employed early on as a secretary for BGE. When WWII became imminent, she hired on to the draft board, where she was the chief clerk. While working at the draft board, she even drafted her own brother! After WWII, Alma settled down and married Robert Joseph McMahon, with whom she had two girls, Lorraine and Patricia.

Together, Alma and Robert enjoyed dancing and going on boat trips. Today, Alma has four grandchildren, one great-grandchild, with one more on the way. She likes to complete word searches, eat chocolate, stay up late at night, and gaze at her celebrity crush, Julio Iglesias. Alma says you should always tell the truth, even if it gets you in trouble. She is also known around Lorien for her famous sayings, such as, "holy kadoodle," "Mother McCree, pin a rose on me," "she's among the living," "gotta go to Murphy's," "you're looking chicky," and, "go to war, Ms. Agnes."