Dr. Rosemary Casey Toumbas, 49, Journalist and Balkan Specialist
Rosemary Casey Toumbas, 49, died unexpectedly on Thursday, April 30th. She was the beloved wife of Vasilios Toumbas and adored mother of Angelica Rose and George William.
Rosemary was born on April 2, 1966, the eighth of nine children, lovingly raised by the late Anne-Marie and William Casey of Winchester. A true scholar and athlete, Rosemary excelled in soccer, lacrosse, Ancient Greek, Latin, French and the theatre arts. She graduated from Phillips Andover Academy and Smith College, and she earned her PhD D, in 2001, from the University Professors Program at Boston University. Dr. Toumbas’ dissertation focused on the role of the media, in the resurgence of Greek nationalism, during the Macedonian conflict of the 1990’s.
Rosemary was a well-known local journalist and lifelong lover of all things “news”. She began her career as a development coordinator for the March of Dimes, in Boston, and was a founding TV producer at New England Cable News. Rosemary produced multiple programs, ranging from The Phantom Gourmet to David Caruso’s finance show. While researching her dissertation in Greece, Rosemary was a guest lecturer at the University of Salonika. Dr. Toumbas continued to work as a journalist in Greece and the United States.
An unwavering optimist, Rosemary will be missed by her mother and father in-law, Angelika and Giorgos Toumbas of Thessaloniki, Greece; her brothers and sisters, Marie Christine Casey and her husband Bruce Brodie of Wilton, CT; William C. Casey III of Winthrop; George C. Casey and his wife Mary of Winchester; Paul C. Casey and his wife Sonja of Winchester; Anne-Louise Parlin and her husband Andrew of New York City; Timothy C. Casey and his wife Erica of Belmont; Bonnie-Jeanne Casey and her wife Maggie O'Grady of Arlington; Frances Toumbas of Thessaloniki and the late Joseph C. Casey. A loving aunt, Rosemary will also be missed by her 23 nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather at the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester, on Tuesday, May 5 from 4-8 pm, and again on Wed.. May 6 at 9AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary's Church, 155 Washington St., Winchester at 10AM. Interment will follow at Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline. In lieu of flowers, donations, in Rosemary’s name, may be made to the WGBH Educational Foundation, www.wgbh.org/tribute.