On December 7, 2015 we lost a passionate and valued FORCE Volunteer from Cleveland, OH after a long and heroic battle - first with ovarian cancer and then breast cancer. She stayed strong and gave her all until the end! Marybeth held many roles in her life including being a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and educator. She worked as a school psychologist for 35 years and was a licensed clinical counselor. In her spare time, she volunteered locally to support others affected by HBOC at the FORCE Cleveland Support meetings and was an integral member of the cancer community nationally through her work as a FORCE Research Advocate. Marybeth valued cancer research as a result of her personal participation in clinical trials and wanted to give back in some way. She participated in the FORCE Research Advocate Training (FRAT) program in 2014 and went on to serve as a consumer advocate in a DOD-funded Long-Term Ovarian Cancer Survivors Study which aims to understand what factors contribute to longer survival rates in ovarian cancer patients with Stage III and IV disease. Marybeth was an integral member of the study team, often going above and beyond the call of duty to further the research.
With much pride, Marybeth shared her experiences and expertise to help others in the HBOC community. We are so grateful for all of the time and effort she devoted to FORCE and the broader cancer community. Marybeth, you are irreplaceable to us and you will always be remembered. Thank you for making a difference in our community!