The "real life" Mary MacCracken (1926-2014) (played by Jane Alexander) had a private practice diagnosing and treating children with learning disabilities until she was in her 70s and wrote numerous books on the subject.
The "real life" Mary MacCracken had a private practice diagnosing and treating children with learning disabilities until she was in her 70s. Mrs. MacCracken also wrote numerous books on her intensely individualized approach of teaching children with cognitive and emotional disabilities.
Mary MacCracken was named honorary chairwoman of various national and local mental health organizations. As an advocate for improving access to mental health care, she often spoke at events with other well known advocates including former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, Senator Ted Kennedy, and even Astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
Mary MacCracken's husband, Calvin Dodd MacCracken, was an MIT graduate and inventor who held over 80 patents and also founded his own Creative Engineering Firm, JetHeat Inc. (Now known as CalMac, Inc.). Some notable inventions of his include the residential forced air furnace, an electric hot-dog cooker, and even the temperature distribution system for the Apollo Astronauts' space suits. Mr. MacCracken is also the author of "A Handbook for Inventors" (1983).