PASSINGS

Mary Dunhill; Headed Family Tobacco Business

Mary Dunhill, 81, the last surviving child of Alfred Dunhill, founder of the tobacco and pipe-making company. The only daughter among Dunhill’s four children, she joined the board of Dunhill Holdings in 1944, explaining that “they were rather short of men,” and in 1961 became chairman, succeeding her eldest brother, Alfred. During her tenure as chairwoman, the company won the Queen’s Award to Industry three times. “Miss Mary,” as she was known, became president when she retired as chairwoman in 1975, and continued to work two days a week. Her autobiography, “Our Family Business,” was published in 1979. In London on Wednesday.