Marie Pucak, the president and CEO of the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce, is leaving after 17 years with the MACC.

But she couldn't depart without one final goodwill gesture toward the city and its many business.

So Pucak turned her farewell party Tuesday at LaMalfa Centre into a fundraiser for MACC.

However, despite the auctions and sideboards, nobody lost sight of who they had gathered for.

"She's just a beautiful person and she cares about what she does," MACC Chairman Randy Verdi said. "I'm sure someone will step up and do a good job but they won't do Marie's job."

Pucak is leaving for Michigan with her family. Her husband received what she jokingly calls a "BFP," a big fat promotion. Unfortunately, the promotion requires them to move.

Pucak praised and said she would miss her co-workers and the many people she dealt with on a daily basis at her job — be they business owners, charity directors or government officials.

The feelings were reciprocated to Pucak.

"Marie has been a good conduit between the business community and City Council and our administration," Mentor Councilman Ray Kirchner said. "It's hard to put into words the amount of time she puts in."

Deborah Foley, the United Way of Lake County president, said Pucak truly understood the community she served.

"It's rare that someone has a true understanding of the needs of a community and the participants in a community," she said.