Mary Demitrack Tryforos born August 31, 1921 in Patras, Greece, to Athas and Polixeni (Kostopoulos) Demitrack. She was born a US citizen as her father was a naturalized US citizen. She moved to the Bronx at 12 years of age with her parents and brothers George, Denos, and Paul. She attended the Greek American Institute, Hunter College High School, and Hunter College where she graduated in 1944 with a BA in Mathematics, Magna Cum Laude, and as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. After graduation she worked for Columbia University’s Statistical Research Group as a “human computer” on what she eventually learned was part of the Manhattan Project. After the war she worked for the Book of the Month Club as a statistician. She married the love of her life, Nicholas Tryforos in 1953. They first lived in the Bronx and moved to College Point, Queens in 1960, where she lived until her death. They were married for 63 years until Nick's death in 2015. Mary was a wonderful devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved visits from her family and baking with her grandchildren for family holidays. Mary was kind, considerate, engaging, well read, and she cheerfully tolerated her husband's sense of humor. She is survived by her children Margaret and husband Paul, James and wife Susan, Thomas and his partner Jessica, Tina and husband David, and grandchildren Peter and Evan Tryforos, Kate Dobbins and husband Patrick, John, Lucas and Eva Thompson and Elias Reville, and great grandchildren Theo and Grant Dobbins, as well as many nieces and nephews. For the past 7 ½ years she received devoted care at home from her caregivers Gwendolyn “Jenny” Stewart, JolantaDa Hines-Michael, and Angela Braithewaite.
A visitation for Mary will be held Wednesday, February 8, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Frederick Funeral Home, 192-15 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11358. A funeral service Thursday, February 9, 2023 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM at St. Nicholas G.O. Church, 196-10 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11358. Interment to follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 6540 Grand Avenue, Maspeth, NY 11378.
Charitable organization in lieu of flowers:
St Basil Academy
79 St Basil Road
Garrison, NY 10524
Or any charity of your choice.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.frederick-fh.com for the Tryforos family.
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