Mary Ellen Gleason

Mary Ellen (Thompson) Gleason died unexpectedly but peacefully at her home in Ithaca on October 10, 2018, her laptop and genealogical notes at her side.

She was born on August 4, 1936 in Yonkers, NY to Chauncey and Aileen (O’Connell) Thompson of Ithaca. Her childhood in Duxbury, Massachusetts gave her lifelong love of the ocean. When her family returned to Ithaca in 1952, she attended Ithaca High School and enjoyed organizing and attending the many reunions in the years since. She went on to Cornell University to major in English and join Alpha Phi sorority, breaking her studies for marriage and the birth of her daughters, Kathryn and Marne. She spent her career as a remedial reading and English teacher, raising her daughters on the south fork of Long Island, where she enjoyed the art scene of the Hamptons of the 1960s and 70s. The next twenty years of her career were spent in Stamford, CT, where she lived with daughter Marne, and many wonderful friends. She received her master’s degree from Hofstra University and received a state teaching excellence award for her reading units for underserved children. In her free time, she was an avid backpacker, bird watcher and genealogist. She traveled throughout the country and Europe visiting friends and tracking her ancestors. After retirement in 1999, she returned to Ithaca to be near her grandson. She brought her research skills to the Daughters of the American Revolution Trumansburg chapter, documenting all the Revolutionary War veterans in the cemeteries of Tompkins County, as well as enabling many people to join. She enjoyed swim classes, mahjong, cards, and book groups with the Campus Club and her Ithaca friends, spending winters in Eufaula, Alabama. Hundreds of babies born at Cayuga Medical left in tiny caps she knit. She enjoyed tours of China, Russia and Spain with Marne, a solo trip down the Nile, a tour of Germany with sister Alice, and summers on archaeological digs with her daughter Kathy and grandson in Italy, Israel, and Jordan. A trip home on the Queen Mary 2 from genealogical work in Ireland and the Channel Islands capped off her international journeys. Mary Ellen was a role model of a beautiful, strong, independent woman, a devoted and beloved mother, aunt, and grandmother. She made lifelong friends who will miss her loyalty and generosity.

Mary Ellen is predeceased by her parents and brother Charles “Torry” Thompson. She is survived by her sister Alice Brew, daughters Kathryn and Marne Gleason, son-in-law Jeffrey Zorn, grandson Noah Zorn, nieces Anne Thompson and Aileen Brew Wilmot, nephews Michael Thompson, Peter Thompson, Gregory Brew, John Thompson, and numerous great nieces and nephews.

Friends may call Tuesday, October 16 from 4-6pm at the Bangs Funeral Home. Interment at Pleasant Grove Cemetery will be held with family at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, kindly give donations to the Friends of Stewart Park at friendsofstewartpark.org.