Mary A. Appelhof was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 11, 1936, being the daughter of Gilbert G. Appelhof Jr. and Hilda Whiteley Appelhof.[7] Her father was Pastor of St. John Episcopal Church in Alma, Ohio and St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Berea, Ohio.[8] In 1954 she graduated from Berea High School in Berea, Ohio and in 1958 graduated from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan with a B.S. in biology.[7][9] In 1959 Appelhof graduated from Michigan State University with an M.S. degree in biology.[9] She later earned an M.S. degree in education and studied advanced biology, an experience totalling five years of study.[7]