 She was born in New York City but grew up in Glens Falls, New York, with parents Michael and Jean Garlan Fox.Mazer graduated from Glens Falls High School, then went to Antioch College, where she met Harry Mazer, whom she married in 1950; they had four children, three of whom survived Mazer, one of whom, Anne Mazer, is also a writer.In addition to Antioch, Mazer also studied at Syracuse University.