Mary (Phillips) Tőkés

Mary Phillips Tőkés, 90, of Mansfield Center, CT passed away on March 6, 2024 in the presence of her loving family – her husband Rudolf L. Tőkés, daughter Anne Elizabeth Tőkés Teurlings and son Adam Christopher Tőkés. Her son-in-law Roel Teurlings and granddaughter Sophie Teurlings mourn her passing from their home in the Netherlands.

Mary was born in Risingsun, Ohio on October 15, 1933 to Harold Phillips and Ruth Arnold. Her remarkable path in life began as the top student of her high school graduating class and continued with a laboratory science diploma in Cleveland, Ohio, and then at the Anatomy Department of Western Reserve Medical School as a research associate. Following her wedding in 1959 she and her husband moved to New York City where she continued her career as a research associate at Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research. She also freelanced as copy editor for works by Columbia doctoral students in history and politics. In 1965 they moved to Middletown, CT where she was a staff member of Wesleyan University’s office of alumni affairs. Anne arrived in 1967 and Adam in 1970 when they moved to Storrs, CT and became members of the UConn community. She took great pride in her role in the newly created biotechnology research center where she played an integral part in its launch and early success. Breakthrough research and collegial cooperation were hallmarks of the center where she greatly enjoyed the spirit and friendship of faculty and students alike.

Throughout her life she has been a loving and supportive wife, mother, and grandmother. She was an avid reader, devoted supporter of the Mansfield Public Library, active in local affairs such as the League of Women Voters, vigorous fan of UConn women’s basketball, a superb chef, great piano player and a NYT crossword puzzle enthusiast. She loved our dogs, her flowers and favorite birds. She also loved to travel internationally. Apart from cruises all over the world, she and her husband also lived for extended periods of time in Budapest, Munich, London, and Oxford.  Here or abroad she made friends everywhere she lived.

Her memory will be cherished at a reunion with members of her extended Ohio family in the summer of 2024. To view Mary’s tribute page or leave an online condolence, please visit potterfuneralhome.com.

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