OBITUARY Mary Beth Tompkins January 20, 1959 – July 14, 2018 TOMPKINS – Mary Beth (nee Gallo) 59, of East Amherst, NY, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on July 14, 2018. Born in Springfield, MA, she was the daughter of Doris Gallo and the late Saverio P. Gallo. Mary Beth grew up in Springfield and attended Holy Name School and was a 1976 graduate of Cathedral High School.
She went on to earn two bachelor degrees from the University of Rhode Island and SUNY Brockport. She started her career in the hospitality industry managing several restaurants for major corporations. Her career led her to relocate to upstate New York where she met her future husband.
On September 1, 1996 she married Mark Tompkins and lived in Rochester. They were blessed with the birth of their wonderful son Evan. They moved to East Amherst, New York where they raised their son and spent many happy years.
Vacation adventures with her family and relatives on Prince Edward Island and Seabrook, New Hampshire were some of her favorite memories. MB was gifted with many artistic and creative talents. Her most recent venture was Cymbria Designs creating exquisitely crafted original jewelry with Buffalo motifs doing all her own metal work.
She also loved to play women’s hockey, and per her teammates, MB was “instrumental in providing ways to bring “moms” into the hockey arena”. She organized women’s summer hockey, helped form the Buffalo Crush Women’s Hockey team that travels around western NY, and she also initiated a “Lady of the Lakes” hockey tournament every year to play the Buffalo Sabres Thunder Team. MB was a “trusted ally for women of all ages wishing to enter the sport”.
She and her son Evan have volunteered their time on the ice teaching participants in the SABAH adaptive ice skating program and the Buffalo Sabres Thunder team in the WNY Special Hockey Association, whose mission is to “provide individuals with developmental disabilities the unique opportunity to play ice hockey”. After her diagnosis, Mary Beth lived life to its fullest potential. She faced her cancer journey with a positive attitude and tremendous determination and courage.
The family would like to acknowledge with gratitude her wonderful healthcare care team at Roswell Park, especially Dr. Stacey Akers and Dr. Joseph Skitzki, and the ICU doctors and nurses who cared for her. Mary Beth was the beloved wife of 22 years to Mark Tompkins, devoted and most loving mother of Evan Tompkins, beloved daughter of Doris Gallo, cherished “baby” sister of Susanne McGlynn (David) and Michael Gallo (Claudia), a loving aunt to Colin, Devin, Ali, Jessica, Patrick, Reid, Makenna, Blair, Alex, and Taylor. MB also leaves many loving extended family members, dear friends, and her adorable loyal cats Lily and Winston.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary Beth’s memory may be made to Roswell Park Alliance Foundation. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 21, from St. Gregory the Great, 200 St. Gregory Court, Williamsville NY 14221, at 10:30 AM. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Cecilia’s Church 42 Main Street Wilbraham, MA 01095, on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 11:00 AM.
A private inurnment will take place by the family. Please share your condolences online, www.
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