Now, on Tuesday, the Strasburg businesswoman will take an oath to become something else — the fifth U.S. ambassador ever from Lancaster County, and the first woman.
Ware won’t officially become the U.S. ambassador to Finland until she arrives in Helsinki and the government there accepts her credentials.
But on Tuesday morning, surrounded by family, friends and her closest associates, Ware will take the oath of office at the State Department in Washington, beginning the journey toward representing the United States in the northern European nation.
Ware, a longtime supporter of the current President Bush and his father, the 41st president, was nominated by the younger Bush in October to be the next U.S. ambassador to Finland.
Confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December, Ware is to replace Ambassador Earle Mack and move to Helsinki.
She is called “ambassador-designate” until she arrives in the post.
Ware would become the first American ambassador from the county since J.P. Wickersham, who served in Denmark from June to September 1882.
Earlier ambassadors from the county included James Buchanan, later U.S. president, who served in Russia in 1832-33 and the United Kingdom from 1853-56.
The county’s other ambassadors were Simon Cameron, also in Russia, in June-September 1862, and Henry Miller Watts, in Austria in 1868-69.
All were political or business leaders of their time, as is Ware, a resident of Strasburg Township.
She is chief executive officer of Ware Family Offices in Strasburg, and is the former chairwoman of what had been the nation’s largest privately owned water company.
“It’s the beginning of an exciting trip,” the 62-year-old Ware said when her nomination was announced in October.
She has declined to be interviewed recently as she prepares for her departure.
“It’s just a wonderful surprise and great honor to be able to represent the people of the United States,” Ware had said.
“Finland is a success story from every point of view. It is obviously a very strong business community. The White House has asked me to serve, and I think you have to respond when you have that opportunity.”
She chaired two statewide gubernatorial campaigns, one for former Gov. Tom Ridge and the other for former Gov. William Scranton.
The Ware family — Marilyn and her brother Paul and their mother, Marian — gave more than $1 million to the conservative Progress for America Voter Fund, which helped re-elect the current President Bush in 2004.
She also served as county Republican chairwoman in 1979-80.
Ware is the daughter of the late U.S. Rep. John H. Ware III, a nationally known businessman, political leader and philanthropist.
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