Mary Ann Buzinski-Brutkiewicz, 48, passed away from pancreatic cancer Wednesday, July 23, at her Mechanicsville, MD, home. She was surrounded by her family and four faithful dogs (Akai, Sakura, Foster and Kuma).

Mary was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA, on December 10, 1959. An outstanding athlete, she lettered in four sports and received the Outstanding Female Athlete of Year award in 1977, the same year she graduated from Wilkes-Barre's Coughlin HS. Mary earned an associate's degree from Luzerne Community College, PA, where her basketball team competed in the Final Four. She then graduated from West Chester State College, PA, with a bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education in 1981. Mary went on to earn her master's degree (with honors) in Business from Florida Institute of Technology.

She worked for Devereaux Foundation in Downingtown, PA, for many years as a special needs counselor and for Centacore Inc. in Malvern, PA, as a Quality Control Technician. Mary then moved to San Diego, CA, in 1989, where she worked for Quiddell Corp. A year later, Mary met her husband, Gregory Brutkiewicz, USN (ret.). They married October 24, 1992, in San Diego. The couple then moved to Misawa, Japan, in 1993, where she worked as Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Specialist. They then moved to Mechanicsville in 1997. At Patuxent Naval Air Station, MD, Mary again worked as a MWR Specialist for two years. In 1999, she transitioned to her current position as a Defense Contract Specialist.

She is preceded in death by her father, Walter Buzinski, Sr., who died in 2004.

Mary is survived by her husband of 15 years, Greg, Mechanicsville; mother, Rita Buzinski, Wilkes-Barre; brothers, William Buzinski, Stafford, VA; Walter Buzinski, Jr., Wilkes-Barre; Greg Buzinski, West Pittston, PA; and Jim Buzinski, Los Angeles, CA; sister, Barbara Jones, Lititz, PA; numerous nieces and nephews; and friends.

A private memorial service will be held Saturday, August 2, in Mechanicsville.

Memorial donations may be sent in lieu of flowers to St. Mary's Animal Welfare League, P.O. Box 1232, Leonardtown, MD 20650, and/or the Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Foundation: Payable to The Johns Hopkins University, mailed to Ralph H. Hruban, M.D., Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 401 North Broadway, Weinberg 2242, Baltimore, MD 21231-2410.

Arrangements provided by Brinsfield Funeral Home.