LADIES' GALLERY

The sixth of seven children, State Rep. Mary Lightbody grew up a country girl in Pepper Pike, Ohio. She earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and a doctorate in science education from The Ohio State University. She has spent the last 27 years teaching both in K-12 education and at the collegiate level in Central Ohio, most recently in a position at Ohio State’s Newark campus.

Rep. Lightbody is a fearless advocate for her constituents in the 19th Ohio House District, fighting to make quality, affordable healthcare coverage available to all Ohioans as well as leading the way on policies that support working families—like reforming a broken education system and standing up for Ohio workers.

Rep. Lightbody married her husband, Rick Noss, in college. Shortly after, however, he was diagnosed with a chronic illness, which meant years of intense care and costly medical bills. Having gone through this experience, Rep. Lightbody knows just how much a sudden illness can affect a family. That’s why she’s fought to improve access to care and to bring down healthcare costs for Ohio families.

In addition to her full-time teaching career, Lightbody is the mother of three grown children, and has served as a deacon at her church, as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Westerville Public Library and in leadership positions with state and national science teachers’ professional associations.

Rep. Lightbody currently lives in Plain Township, where she’s lived for the past 30 years.

Biography provided the Ohio House of Representatives website, 2020, ohiohouse.gov.